The Broward chapter of the far-right “parental rights” group Moms for Liberty made controversial claims during a school board meeting earlier this month — one that caused a heated verbal altercation.
According to the Miami New Times, Corie Pinero, chair of the Broward chapter of Moms for Liberty, claimed that schools are “transitioning kids behind their parents’ backs.”
After this claim, a shouting match erupted and caused a recess in the meeting.
"I'm not going to sit here and allow her to say this about us teachers. Am I the only person that stands up for teachers?" Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco said.
Fusco urged the board to refute Pinero’s claim. There is no evidence schools are secretly transitioning kids.
Moms for Liberty backed the claim by responding to a video of the altercation that Sun Sentinel education reporter Scott Travis posted on social media. The group posted screenshots of two fliers — one announcing the district’s recognition of LGBTQ History Month, and another of an after-school course called LGBTQ Diversity and Inclusion.
“So it’s not happening, right?” Moms for Liberty wrote on the post with the screenshots.
Travis responded by pointing out that the course still follows state laws since it’s after school. He cited an agreement to allow instructors to speak about sexual orientation and gender identity if it’s not part of the curriculum.
During the meeting, Pinero also said that an LGBTQ resolution passed in September encouraged “sexual immorality” and that schools are providing students with books featuring pornographic material.
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit legal organization focused on tracking, exposing and fighting hate and anti-government extremist groups, has raised warning flags against Moms for Liberty.
SPLC research analyst Maya Carey told OutSFL in August that Moms for Liberty uses their “tight” relationship with the Department of Education to push their extremist beliefs, such as banning books and erasing Critical Race Theory.
“They are monopolizing on the fear of parents,” she said in August.
Voters rejected many candidates who were associated with Moms for Liberty and backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in the August primary election. Despite this rejection, Carey said people shouldn’t stop fighting against the group since they are “strongest in Florida” with 32 active chapters last year in the state.
