This Florida teacher married a woman. Now she's not a teacher anymore.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

EDUCATION

This Florida teacher married a woman. Now she’s not a teacher anymore.

By Hannah Natanson
May 19, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

{snip}

But as Solomon’s students made her feel needed, some of her colleagues were doing the opposite. ... Early in the job, one teacher — who figured out Solomon was gay after watching Hayley help Solomon cart supplies into her classroom — told her in the middle of a casual conversation, “I like you as a person, but I don’t support gay marriage.” Stunned, all Solomon could think to say was, “Okay.” ... Some time after that, third-grade teacher Arriete said, another staffer struck up a conversation about Solomon. The woman asked if Arriete knew Solomon was married to a woman, adding that same-sex relations were against her religion and “not right in God’s eyes.” Arriete, whose brother is gay, walked away rather than start an argument.

Later, Arriete nominated Solomon for a “Rookie Teacher of the Year” prize, awarded through a faculty-wide vote. In a biography accompanying her submission, Solomon detailed her marriage to Hayley, as well as her stint working for an LGBTQ rights group. As staff members were sitting down to vote, Arriete said she heard another teacher mutter that she refused to vote for Solomon “because she’s gay.” Arriete looked behind her but couldn’t identify who said it. ... Solomon lost the prize to another teacher who had worked at the school for less than a year, Arriete said. “A lot of people didn’t vote because she is openly gay, and that is wrong,” she said. “I am 100 percent sure she lost because of that.”

Then in fall 2021, when Solomon went to a colleague for advice about a transgender student’s request for a gender-neutral bathroom, the staffer’s face darkened. ... “Let me give you a tip,” the woman said. “Don’t talk about anything LGBT. Don’t do it. Parents can get upset. Don’t do that.” ... Feeling terrified, Solomon did not think of protesting. “Oh,” she said, “sure.”

Asked about these incidents, Miami-Dade schools spokeswoman Jaquelyn Calzadilla wrote in a statement Wednesday that the school district has policies “that expressly prohibit discrimination and harassment” and that the school board “strives to provide a workplace and educational environment free from” both. She noted that Miami-Dade “has never required, either directly or indirectly, that teachers in same-sex marriages refrain from mentioning or acknowledging their marriages in class.” ... Five months later, Florida made Solomon’s colleague’s suggestion into state law.

{snip}

Gift Article
https://wapo.st/3MxKDLt

By Hannah Natanson
Hannah Natanson is a reporter covering education and K-12 schools in Virginia. Twitter https://twitter.com/hannah_natanson

[dchill]

1. These people think being judgmental makes them...

...MORE religious.

[RKP5637]

2. Throw the religious people that are creeps to the lions! n/t

[llashram]

3. it is so sad

that a person cannot love whom they please. Amerikkka+++is so FUBAR in areas such as this. AS long as they are not hurting themselves or anyone else, NO ONE has a right to harass people who love. The Christian god is supposed to be about love, right? The bible has nothing to say from God about who we are to love. Now the agendas of men including their words in the bible make the bible a repository of the words of men, not god.

I am sure a creator of the FUBAR mess we have to experience is somewhere watching our hateful world, holding his/her nose and shaking their head.

I get in trouble with Christians a lot with them spewing their RW bullshit and saying just one word...throws them off every time...

[NQAS]

4. Easier said than done, of course

These teachers are never going to win. Not in Florida. Not in any red state. Ever.

Laws may change (though they won't) but those administering them won't. At least not for much more than a 4-year term as governor. The homophobes and racists and misogynists are not going away, and they are not slithering back under their rocks.

So back to easier said than done. Move. Find jobs in school districts and schools where you are wanted and needed. Where you can do some good for yourself and your students without fighting these exhausting fucking battles every single day.

So what if the schools can't find replacements? Not your problem. But LGBTQ kids need advocates. Of course they do, and it may be a battle worth fighting. But at what cost to you? I'm not fighting these battles (except at the ballot box), and I'm exhausted reading about it.

Same issues will apply when Roe is overturned. Whoever can move should move. If there's enough population shifting, that may have long-term political consequences. If so, great. If not, at least you'll find peace and happiness elsewhere.

I know this is a cop-out. But the price paid is high when every day is a battle, and all you want is to do your job, live your life.

[RKP5637]

5. In short words, Florida is sadly becoming a real shithole with DeSantis. He's dividing up Florida

as best he can ... and he will do the same to the US if he ever became president. What a horrible thought.

[NQAS]

6. You are so right

He would, if elected, complete what trump started, along with the buffoon extraordinaire in Pennsylvania, who has said he would not certify any election won by a democrat.

And in the past we would have said that all would be well because the courts would not have any of it. But that's not the case anymore. The courts are in on it.

[bahboo]

7. do whatever, you bigoted fucks....

the gay ain't going away. Love and human nature will win in the end. Too bad assholes are making it so difficult...