LI School District's Ban On Pride Flags In Classrooms Sparks Outrage

BOHEMIA, NY — LGBTQ advocates and a teacher are taking legal action against the Connetquot Central School District after a teacher was directed to remove Pride flags from her classroom. The action comes weeks after the district came under fire for banning a book about LGBTQ issues.

Reza Kolahifar, the district’s assistant superintendent for administration and personnel, sent a letter to staff Tuesday, citing a district policy that said school employees should not engage in political activities on school grounds.

"This includes, but is not limited to, discussions centered around personal beliefs and flags denoting political views," Kolahifar wrote in the message obtained by Patch. "The only flags that should be hung in a classroom or office are the American flag and the New York State flag."

Superintendent Lynda G. Adams also wrote a letter to the Connetquot community Thursday, saying the teacher hung both a Rainbow flag and a Progress Pride flag in her classroom.

Designed in 2018 by graphic designer Daniel Quasar, a Progress Pride flag has an additional five-colored chevron to the classic Rainbow flag. It includes black and brown stripes to represent marginalized LGBTQ+ communities of color, along with the colors pink, light blue and white, which are used on the Transgender Pride flag.

The Progress Pride flag was "at least twice the size" of the American flag on display, Adams said, and several students reported feeling "uncomfortable" by it.

"The teacher in this classroom was asked to remove the Progress flag, but could continue to display the other flag in the room, which was the traditional Pride flag," Adams said in an email obtained by Patch.

When the teacher refused, the district enacted Policy 1310 "which states that school employees shall not engage in political activities" on school premises.

"All of our children deserve a school where they are safe, comfortable and respected, regardless of what race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or political affiliation they espouse to," said Adams. "By adhering to the letter of the policy, we can neutralize the environment, hopefully making the space feel safe and comfortable for all of our students."

In a statement to Patch, Adams said the district is "aware of the mixed perspectives" surrounding the display of the Progress Pride flag displayed in a classroom.

"Schools must remain neutral and safe learning spaces for all students and staff and while we respect individual personal beliefs, the classroom is not the appropriate setting to express these views, especially if they create a disruption to the educational environment," she said in the statement. "Any materials or conversations that violate this mission are prohibited within our schools."

Dr. David Kilmnick, president and founder of the LGBT Network, said in a letter that the group and the teacher sent a cease and desist to the entire school board and administration, "demanding that they immediately revoke their discriminatory policy and disavow their discriminatory act."

The teacher, who has been working with the LGBT Network, told Kilmnick she has hung a Rainbow flag and a Progress Pride flag in her classroom for many years, and refused to take it down.

Her classroom also happens to be where the school's Gay-Straight Alliance club meets, LGBT Network confirmed.

Kilmnick wrote that the message is a violation of First and 14th Amendment rights, as well as anti-discrimination laws.

"Simply, this bigotry is the result of the planned efforts of right-wing extreme groups to politicize our schools and target LGBT people," he said.

The district has threatened teachers with disciplinary action, including losing their jobs, if they choose to keep the symbol of pride and safety displayed, Kilmnick said.

He added that while Kolahifar insists on educators not engaging in political activities, the school's parking lot currently has spaces painted in the Blue Lives Matter Flag, and "MAGA" — an acronym for former President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again" — painted on the poles.

Tony Felicio, Jr., president of the Connetquot Teachers Association, told Patch that the district's actions were wrong.

"The association's focus is on protecting its teachers and ALL students," said Felicio. "This decision hurts kids. Period."

Patch has reached out to the school board for comment.

The LGBT Network plans to rally in front of the district office Tuesday, which is also National Coming Out Day.

"We are putting every school and library district on notice – don’t mess with our kids and families and don’t mess with our teachers," said Kilmnick. "There will be grave and costly consequences to face, including federal and state litigation."

The rally will take place at 6 p.m. 780 Ocean Avenue in Bohemia, before a school board meeting set for 7:30 p.m.

The Connetquot Teachers Association will also hold a simultaneous rally for a fair and equitable contract, Felicio said.

The district was recently under fire last month, when it was listed on PEN America's list of banned books.

“Gender Queer: A Memoir,” by Maia Kobabe, is in the district's circulation, but requires parental permission to borrow. According to its website, PEN America defines requiring a permission slip as a ban.