On Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, nearly 30 protesters (including individuals and folx from RISE: Healthy for Life [which organized the protest], Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, TriPride, and Free Hugs at Pride) wore red and attended the Kingsport Board of Education working meeting to oppose a discriminatory policy proposal. The original proposal would have added to the instructional standards policy that teachers “shall not create, facilitate or engage in classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The amended policy proposal presented at the meeting changed the word “discussion” to the word “instruction” and added more language from the discriminatory Tennessee law it is based on.

School board members Julie Byers and Jim Welch both shared their belief that the words “All curriculum and instructional programming implemented in the school district shall adhere to state and federal laws” effectively cover this new state law. RISE agrees.

Todd Golden, who proposed the original change, shared his belief that the district and teachers would find the law too confusing if it were not spelled out in the policy—despite all the other current policies that are not explicit. RISE has faith in our teachers and administration—they are perfectly capable of adhering to the law in the least harmful way.

The new policy proposal exceeds the state’s new law and changes the option for guardians to opt out of instruction around gender identity and orientation to an opt-in requirement.

Golden pressed hard for his change based on technicalities, the “complicated” law, and a proposal to simply get rid of all policies because they’re already part of the law. However, the policy as proposed is unprecedented as it would codify discriminatory language in district policies and, even if the law should change, the policy would continue until changed again by the school board.

The law will be harmful to children, youth, district families, and school staff, as this law implies there is something wrong with people having diverse orientations and genders. And yes, Kingsport must abide by state law.

However, if this proposal passes, the Kingsport Board of Education is magnifying the harm by creating stronger restrictions than the state did and by specifically adding the details of this law to district policies.

From a letter to the school board from RISE collaborating director Cindi Huss:

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducts Youth Risk Behavior Surveilance (YRBS) annually. They have found that young people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide, and nearly 40% of transgender folx attempted suicide before they turned 25.

This is not because being gay or transgender is inherently more risky. It is because gay and transgender folx are much more likely to be bullied and harassed than their straight, cisgender peers, and students who experience bullying and harassment are at higher risk for suicide.

Again, according to the CDC, physical and mental health-related problems inhibit young people from learning by reducing their motivation to learn, reducing their feeling of connectedness to school, and contributing to absenteeism and drop outs.

On the other hand, “Students [all students] in schools with GSAs indicate the presence of a safer school climate and more supportive teachers/staff. They earn better grades, are less isolated, are less likely to skip school due to fear, feel a greater sense of well-being, and have higher self-esteem.” (Swanson & Gettinger, 2016; Hannah, 2017; Porta et al., 2017; Calzo et al., 2018). And other affirming policies and programs help as well.

We know that people who experience trauma, especially childhood trauma (ACEs) are more likely to self-harm, abuse substances, and attempt suicide. We know that LGBTQ+ people are more likely than others to be bullied and harassed. And we know that affirming students officially can create a better learning environment for all students.

It is clear, then, that trying to “disappear” entire groups of people from history, from science, from health will have the opposite effect and is one step away from district-sanctioned bullying/abuse.

If guardians are concerned about what their children are learning at school, they should have conversations with their children about their personal beliefs. Schools, though, should not be in the business of rewriting history or censoring the best scientific, historic, and health information we have.

Care for all our children. Give all our children their best chance for success. Value every human life that has been entrusted to your care.

Golden replied: All of those issues were addressed at tonight’s meeting.

RISE disagrees.

Please join us: Attend the regularly scheduled school board meeting on Tuesday Sept. 13, 6 p.m., at the district office at 400 Clinchfield St, 3rd floor (Tennessee Room). Wear red, bring signs, and consider signing up to comment if you are a Kingsport resident.

If you cannot attend, you could still write a letter to the editor of a local paper—our legislators are watching! Or if you are a Kingsport resident, you could write emails to the school board members.

And as always, we appreciate your donations to support our work!