Wisc. School Board Affirms Ban on Pride Displays & Preferred Pronouns
Despite the vocal opposition to a new school policy by a large crowd of community members, a Wisconsin school board approved a measure prohibiting teachers and staff from displaying LGBTQ+ Pride flags or symbols and other items deemed "political." The policy also forbids the use of preferred pronouns.Employees are prohibited from displaying political or religious messages, such as pride flags, Black Lives Matter signs, or We Back the Badge signs, or specifying their pronouns in emails per the district's code of conduct.Kettle Moraine High School library was packed with people wanting their voices heard on Tuesday, and Milwaukee's ABC affiliate WISN reports the public comment period had to be extended from 30 to 60 minutes to accommodate many, but not all, of the speakers.
The school superintendent told board members in July he's clarifying the employee code of conduct to remove pride flags from classrooms and pronouns from email signatures.The move is based on the school district's policy that prohibits "partisan politics, sectarian religious views, or selfish propaganda," CNN reports.According to superintendent Stephen Plum, expressing identity is political, uncomfortable, and thus prohibited at Kettle Moraine School District."The expectation is that teachers and administration will not have political flags or religious messaging in their classroom or on their person.