Miami-Dade School Board member shocked at rejection of LGBTQ National History Month

MIAMI – Miami-Dade School Board members voted 8-1 rejecting a movement to make October LGBTQ National History Month. 

The vote coming in Wednesday night time and upsetting many.

Lucia Baez Geller is the one who proposed the concept to make October LGBTQ History month. 

She says it is stunning to see what number of of her colleagues voted in opposition to the availability. 

She thinks some of them are nervous about backlash from Tallahassee and Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“It’s a scary time as well, especially with the removal of the board members in Broward. I believe many colleagues who may have supported it didn’t do so because of that,” says Baez Geller.

Baez Geller says final 12 months she proposed October as LGBTQ observance month and it handed with the bulk of votes. 

This was the primary and solely 12 months the month was noticed.

“To me LGBTQ history month is a symbolic gesture. It shows we welcome and respect people from all backgrounds,” she says.

This 12 months, fairly a special response, with eight of the 9 board members rejecting her proposal.

“8-1 is sound trouncing.  It’s not like it snuck by one way or the other with just a single vote. I’m hoping it wakes up the LGBTQ leadership of this community; the business people, the elected officials,” says Scott Galvin, govt director of Safe Schools South Florida.

More than 100 folks spoke to the varsity board. Some of them pushing for inclusivity.

“You cannot pretend gay people don’t exist,” mentioned one lady.

While others say this sort of provision violates their parental rights.

“I’d like to think that the money I’m paying in my taxes is not going towards this type of fight but to the education of my grandchildren,” defined one man.

One provision underneath the proposed decision would have allowed lecturers to debate authorized circumstances surrounding homosexual marriage.

“The two Supreme Court cases we asked to include are American law.  They’re U.S. government and it was for 12th graders so it’s completely within the statues of parental rights and education bill which dictates things for kindergarten through third grade,” says Baez Geller.

Galvin says it is essential for college students to know the struggles the LGBTQ group confronted and the equality they proceed to struggle for.

“It validates what the kids’ experiences are and what led to the moment we’re all in right now.  Any time we start censoring speech in a classroom it’s not a good thing,” he says.

We reached out to all eight faculty board members who voted down the measure final night time. 

School board member Lubby Navarro wasn’t obtainable for an interview and the opposite members did not return our emails or telephone calls.

Meanwhile, Steve Gallon, Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade County School Board, had this to say, “The School Board of Miami-Dade County is committed to the provision and protection of the educational, emotional, and mental well-being of all students. In doing so, we will continue to embrace, respect, and support the individuality and uniqueness of all students. As a School Board, we also recognize the critical role and voice that parents play in the education and upbringing of their children, and respects and adheres to all laws governing such. I believe that the action of the Board last evening reflected a commitment to both our students and compliance with the law.”