Miami school board rejects LGBTQ+ history month proposal

The Miami-Dade County School Board rejected a proposal to recognize October as LGBTQ+ history month after a contentious, 13-hour meeting that extended into the early hours of Thursday.

More than 100 speakers signed up to address the Florida panel before a final vote of 5-3 ultimately sank the plan.

Presenters included parents, students, educators, advocates and nonprofit representatives.

Proponents argued that LGBTQ+ history should be recognized alongside that of other minority groups, such as Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month.

June is already recognized across the US as Pride Month celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, while October is when the community’s history is marked.

“Because the LGBTQ exists in Miami-Dade, it has made significant contributions to our country and county and we have LGTBQ students,” said board member Lucia Baez-Geller. “It does not impact or affect instructional materials, and I cannot believe I have to say this out loud, but this item does not indoctrinate our students into any sort of lifestyle.”

Other speakers argued that the recognition would provide a welcoming atmosphere to LGBTQ+ kids and that rejecting the proposal would foment homophobia.

Opponents asserted that matters of sexual orientation and gender identity should be introduced to kids by their parents rather than public school teachers and administrators.

“Leave my kids alone,” parent Mya Jordan told the panel. “You want freedom? Have freedom at home.”

Tensions ran high at the packed meeting, with several backers and opponents — including members of the right-wing Proud Boys group — gathering outside.

Board vice chair Danny Espino asserted that the proposal could potentially run afoul of Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law that prohibits discussion of the topic for kids in kindergarten through the third grade.

In backing the bill, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis argued that the material is inappropriate for young children and that parents should have ultimate control over when they are introduced to it.

“There is a law on the books that is clear,” Espino said.

He also rejected accusations that opposition to the proposal was rooted in hostility to the LGBTQ community.

“I resent the notion that a vote against this measure is a vote against a group of people,” he said. “It is not all or nothing.”

Maxx Fenning, founder and executive director of an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, countered that the measure conforms with state law and said other districts have adopted similar recognitions.