Have I already mentioned that it’s Pride Month? I’ll mention it again just in case.
IT’S PRIDE MONTH EVERYBODY .
Who doesn’t love a good old rainbow celebration coupled with a relentless never-ending battle for basic human rights?
Sadly, quite a few people don’t love it. The LGBTQ+ community has to face daily opposition just for being who they truly are, and it tends to ramp up with Pride Month visability.
A lot of institutions don’t support the LGBTQ+ community.
Granted, most of those institutions are religious ones (and Chick-Fil-A for some reason??? Is the gay agenda vegetarianism?)
Many people argue that supporting the queer community conflicts with their faith, which is fair so long as people aren’t being hurt, which they currently are .
Personal beliefs shouldn’t be invalidating or socially/physically threatening to entire identities.
One church in Austin is pretty well-known for their anti-LGBTQ+ views.
Celebration Church frequently includes anti-gay rhetoric in their sermons, stating on their website that marriage “is defined from the beginning of Scripture as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman. God designed sexual intimacy for a marriage relationship and does not endorse or condone it in any other context.”
The church has been renting out a local school hall for a lot of their services.
They have paid the Austin Independent School District a total of $182,000 for the use of the district-owned performing arts center.
Many locals have been protesting the church’s use of the hall since May, as a number of Austin schools recently included anti-discrimination language to their school statements which prohibit “harassment of any kind based on gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.”
However, state officials have warned that banning the church from renting the venue would violate the First Amendment.
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton explained to the district that limiting the church’s access to community resources would also be a violation of state law.
The district was caught between a rock and a hard place, as they didn’t want to continue aiding an institution whose views so heavily conflicted with their own.
They decided to take the money they’ve made from the venue rental and donate it to pride initiatives.
They will be donating $10,000 of the money they have received from Celebration Church to the Austin Pride Parade and other district-wide pride related activities.
$4,000 of the money for the parade will go towards student transportation to ensure safety for students who would like to participate in the parade.
The remaining $6,000 will pay for security for the students, printing materials, and supplies for additional Pride activities.
The district released a heartwarming statement regarding their donation.
“Our core value is supporting all students, making sure all our students have a welcoming environment,” explained Austin district chief of staff Jacob Reach.
“Every year, the organizers of that event have struggled to find donations, money and support to be able to include Austin Independent School District students and teachers in this event. So we were able to set aside for them so they don’t have go out and try to raise the money.”
“We do have a core value of equity, diversity and inclusion in this district.”
Reach expressed that he felt like the district’s inclusion of Pride week was a good choice.
In a recent Facebook post , the district started off the month with a gesture of support:
“In honor of the celebration, Austin ISD and members of the LGBTQ+ Affinity group gathered to raise the Pride flag at the flag pole on courtyard of the AISD main office. The Pride flag will be raised at the AISD main office the week of June 3 and Oct. 7. This symbolic gesture will reiterate the district’s commitment to our LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families.”
This will mark the district’s sixth year of continued support and participation in the parade.
“The district is also pleased to announce that funds generated from the rental of the AISD Performing Arts Center have been designated for district and campus Pride activities,” the post continued, “Including participation at the annual Austin Pride Parade.”
Shows of support from educational institutions are vital in the process of acceptance for queer youth.
When you are at school eight hours a day, five days a week, for two decades of your life, it is important that the space in which you are learning and growing not only feels safe, but is encouraging of your identity.
h/t: Yahoo Lifestyle
