NYC Public Schools' First LGBT Pride Event Is Not That Alarming, Says Christian Conservative
Conservative groups are expressing concern for student rights following New York City Public Schools' recent LGBT Pride Celebration.
Earlier this week, NYC Public Schools held what has been described as their "first ever" LGBT pride celebration for students and their families.
"Hundreds of LGBT students, their parents and teachers came together Tuesday for the first LGBT pride celebration at the [Tweed] courthouse in Manhattan," reported Fox 5, noting that hundreds were in attendance.
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Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for Policy Studies at the Family Research Council, told The Christian Post that he was "a little surprised that this is the first time" such a celebration has been held.
"I would think in a large liberal school district like that, this might have been something that they've been doing for years," said Sprigg.
Sprigg also told CP that while he found it "a small relief that this wasn't something that was forced on every student" in the school district, he felt concern for the other pro-LGBT things that the school district was advancing.
"For example they now have a full time LGBT community liaison in the New York City Public Schools. Basically a taxpayer-funded position whose whole job is to promote the homosexual agenda within the schools," he noted.
"All of these are supposedly to create 'safe spaces.' It's a favorite term, a buzz word to create safe spaces, but my concern is that there are no safe spaces for Christians, for people who in New York City Public Schools who hold traditional moral views regarding homosexual conduct. And I think that's perhaps what Christians should be most alarmed at."
On Tuesday, NYC Public Schools held an LGBT Pride Celebration at a historic courthouse with the hopes that other school districts would follow suit.
The theme of the celebration, according to the New York City Department of Education's first LGBTQ community liaison Jared Fox, was to focus on the progress made on LGBT rights.
"[Tonight's celebration] is an opportunity for us to highlight some of the proactive initiatives that we're doing and to create a supportive and inclusive environment in every school building," explained Fox to NBC News.
"[It's] an opportunity to not only change the lives of kids across the five boroughs, but to create safe, supportive inclusive environments across the country."
Ed Vitagliano, executive vice president of the American Family Association, did not view the event or what it was celebrating as progress.
In a statement provided to CP, Vitagliano argued that the LGBT Pride Celebration was further proof that public schools were deviating from their original intention of being "a place to learn the skills to be productive members of society."
"If Christian parents have not yet been diligently and prayerfully considering alternate ways to educate their children, this should jar them into the process," stated Vitagliano.
"In many places in America – although certainly not all – public schools have become Marxist re-education camps for altering children's perspectives on reality, especially when it comes to the principles of the sexual revolution."
