Pennsylvania's voters boot out a book-banning school board, a vandal ripped down a Pride flag banner from a church in Maryland, and a school district in Texas restored the role in a play for a trans student.
Voters Boot Book-Banning School Board
A Pennsylvania school board known nationally for contentious board meetings regarding masks, Pride flags, book bans, and policies against using students’ preferred names and pronouns, had Democrats win all its five board seats on Nov. 7.
Central Bucks School District is located just north of Philadelphia.
According to WBUR-FM, on election night, everyone in Bucks County Democratic headquarters rejoiced, cheering and hugging one another.
"It was very moving and a very joyous feeling from everyone," said Meghan Budden, who has children in the district. “And a sense of relief."
Gay Pride Banner Ripped Down From Church
Photo courtesy of Pastor Dennis Williams.
A Pride banner hanging down the side of a Bethesda church was torn, according to WTOP News.
“It was like a punch in the stomach,” said Dennis Williams, children’s minister of Bethesda United Methodist Church.
He stated that he was the first person to notice the damage.
“Back in the day, I would have understood that, but now, living where we live and being in such a supportive church, it hurt,” he said.
According to a statement from Montgomery County police, officers were summoned to the church on Nov. 8 following a report of vandalism.
A preliminary inquiry revealed that on Nov. 7, an unknown suspect walked up to the church, ripped down the flag and departed the area.
School District Restores Role For Trans Student
Screenshot via WFAA, YouTube.
According to NBC affiliate KTEN, a Texas school district overturned restrictions on a high school production of “Oklahoma!” after the removal of a transgender teen from his role led to community uproar and national press coverage.
The Sherman Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7-0 to restore the initial script and actors for the “Oklahoma!” production.
“We want to apologize to our students, parents and our community regarding the circumstances that they have had to go through to this date," said board president Brad Morgan in a written statement. "We understand that our decision does not erase the impact this had on our community, but we hope that we will reinforce to everyone, particularly our students, that we do embrace all of our Board goals, to include addressing the diverse needs of our students and empowering them for success in a diverse and complex world. The Board is committed to uphold its ethical duties to include being continuously guided by what is best for all students in our District.”
