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Denver parent sues school to fly ‘heterosexual pride’ flag with other flags
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In Denver, an elementary school is facing backlash for displaying LGBTQIA+ pride flags but refusing to include flags representing heterosexual pride. In response, a parent of two children in the school system is suing the school, claiming that the refusal is a violation of free speech.
The parent, Nathan Feldman, is taking legal action against the school’s policy, asserting that while it supports employees’ right to display pride flags, it “does not allow for other flags,” as stated in the lawsuit.
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The lawsuit includes a photo of a rainbow flag outside a classroom door at Slavens Elementary School. Alongside it is an image of a “straight pride” flag, requested by Feldman to be displayed beside the pride flag outside the classroom.
When the school refused, Feldman claimed it was discriminatory and a violation of his kids’ free speech.
Feldman said that he is not asking for the pride flags to be removed, but rather for the school to include flags that represent other viewpoints.
When Feldman emailed the school district, requesting to include the straight pride flag, he said that Principal Kurt Siebold pointed to the teachers’ rights to display pride flags since those symbols are “consistent with the district’s equity-based curriculum.”
“While a debate rages on the very nature of human identity throughout the United States, Denver Public Schools is not entitled to pick which side its on,” the lawsuit states. “As a public entity tasked with educating children, it is of the utmost importance that it adheres to the Constitution guarantees of free speech and expression.”
The lawsuit continues on to say, “DPS policy does not allow students or staff to speak or express support for students or staff who are not members of the LGBTQIA+ community or who otherwise hold views that differ from the District’s favored viewpoint.”
The school district told The Denver Post that it has not been served the lawsuit as of Monday, Dec. 4, but even if it had, the district cannot comment on pending litigation.
Feldman is seeking $3 million and a change to school policy to allow for both flags to be displayed outside his child’s classroom.
[KARAH RUCKER]
IF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS LGBTQ PRIDE FLAGS DISPLAYED OUTSIDE ITS CLASSROOMS – AND REFUSES TO PUT UP FLAGS REPRESENTING HETEROSEXUAL PRIDE – IS THAT DISCRIMINATION?
THAT’S WHAT A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN IN THE DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS LOOKING TO FIND OUT, SUING OVER ITS POLICY THAT SUPPORTS THE RIGHT OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO DISPLAY PRIDE FLAGS BUT “DOES NOT ALLOW FOR OTHER FLAGS” – ACCORDING TO THE LAWSUIT.
THE LAWSUIT SHOWS AN EXAMPLE OF A RAINBOW FLAG OUTSIDE A CLASSROOM DOOR AT SLAVENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEN TO THE RIGHT OF IT, A FLAG THAT REPRESENTS “STRAIGHT PRIDE” THAT THE PARENT REQUESTED BE PUT BESIDE THE PRIDE FLAG OUTSIDE HIS CHILDREN’S CLASSROOM.
WHEN THE SCHOOL REFUSED, NATHAN FELDMAN CLAIMED IT WAS A VIOLATION AGAINST HIS KID’S FREE SPEECH AND DISCRIMINATORY.
FELDMAN SAYS HE’S NOT ASKING FOR THE PRIDE FLAGS TO BE REMOVED, BUT RATHER FOR THE SCHOOL TO INCLUDE OTHER FLAGS THAT REPRESENTS OTHER VIEWPOINTS.
WHEN THE DAD ASKED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT VIA EMAIL TO INCLUDE THE STRAIGHT PRIDE FLAG, HE SAYS THE PRINCIPAL — KURT SIEBOLD — POINTED TO TEACHERS’ RIGHTS TO DISPLAY PRIDE FLAGS BECAUSE THOSE SYMBOLS ARE “CONSISTENT WITH THE DISTRICT’S EQUITY-BASED CURRICULUM.”
THE LAWSUIT STATES –
“While a debate rages on the very nature of human identity throughout the United States, Denver Public Schools is not entitled to pick which side it’s on. As a public entity tasked with educating children, it is of the utmost importance that it adheres to the Constitution guarantees of free speech and expression.”
“DPS policy does not allow students or staff to speak or express support for students or staff who are not members of the LGBTQIA+ community or who otherwise hold views that differ from the District’s favored viewpoint.”
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOLD THE DENVER POST IT HAS NOT BEEN SERVED THE LAWSUIT AS OF MONDAY, BUT EVEN IF THEY HAD, THEY CANNOT COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION.
FELDMAN IS SEEKING $3 MILLION AND A CHANGE TO SCHOOL POLICY TO ALLOW FOR BOTH FLAGS TO BE DISPLAYED OUTSIDE HIS CHILD’S CLASSROOM.
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