Texas Legal professional Common Ken Paxton speaks exterior the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on Nov. 1, 2021. Paxton stated a week-long celebration of Satisfaction occasions in Austin this week violated state regulation.
Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs
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Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs
Texas Legal professional Common Ken Paxton speaks exterior the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on Nov. 1, 2021. Paxton stated a week-long celebration of Satisfaction occasions in Austin this week violated state regulation.
Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs
An annual Satisfaction Week celebration in Austin faculties is breaking state regulation, Texas Legal professional Common Ken Paxton stated this week — the state’s newest transfer to confront LGBTQ rights.
Yearly, the Austin Impartial College District plans a sequence of occasions to have a good time LGBTQIA+ college students, highlighting “the district’s dedication to making a secure, supportive and inclusive atmosphere.”
The occasions this yr began Monday and culminate Saturday with a “PRIDE out” celebration. Every day of the week is assigned a theme, together with understanding your rights, artistic expression and Satisfaction historical past. Satisfaction and Ally stickers and flags are handed out as effectively. The occasions line up with Nationwide LGBTQ Well being Consciousness Week.
However on Tuesday, Paxton despatched a letter to Stephanie Elizalde, the superintendent of the Austin Impartial College District.
“The Texas Legislature has made it clear that in relation to intercourse schooling, mother and father—not faculty districts—are in cost,” he wrote.
Paxton stated the varsity district should get hold of parental permission earlier than any pupil is topic to instruction concerning human sexuality.
“By internet hosting ‘Satisfaction Week,’ your district has, at greatest, undertaken a week-long educational effort in human sexuality with out parental consent. Or, worse, your district is cynically pushing a week-long indoctrination of your college students that not solely fails to acquire parental consent, however subtly cuts mother and father out of the loop,” Paxton stated. “Both means, you might be breaking state regulation.”
Paxton stated that oldsters would possibly file complaints towards the varsity district with the varsity board and the Texas Training Company.
On Thursday, the Elizalde launched an announcement to the varsity group, noting that Satisfaction Month takes place in June, when faculties are on summer season break.
“Right here at Austin ISD, we have a good time Satisfaction throughout each faculty yr so our LGBTQIA+ college students understand how a lot they’re valued and beloved. This yr, it is essential to me personally that they know they’re revered and secure, too, and lest anybody have any doubt, that completely goes for our trans children,” she stated. “We’re ALL Austin ISD. We embrace variety.”
In current months, the Texas legislature and Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott have doubled down on proscribing LGBTQ rights and have significantly focused trans youth.
