National culture wars on race, LGBTQ+ rights come to WA schools
An Olympia parent group questioning a teacher about her involvement in resource groups for students of color. A measure before the Richland School Board to remove a book depicting gay parents. Kitsap County high school students wearing shirts proclaiming there are only two genders. People at Edmonds school board meetings speaking out against transgender individuals.
Washington is getting a sustained taste of the national culture wars. The pandemic era’s protests against school closures and vaccinations have given way to a push by some on the right against curricula and policies concerning LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color.
News reports from around the nation underscore the breadth and depth of this battle. A North Idaho educator honored as “teacher of the year” announced that she left the state after being harassed for supporting transgender individuals. A South Carolina teacher was reprimanded by her district for teaching about race after her students reported her. In Florida, lesbian and gay teachers have left the profession after a law made it more difficult for them to discuss their own families or LGBTQ+ issues without fear of reprisal.
With its Democratic-controlled Legislature and governor, Washington is highly unlikely to see statewide restrictions on teaching about race or gender. And efforts by citizens concerned about gender identity to put measures on a statewide ballot have been unsuccessful. That has left opponents – which include church congregations and parent groups – to push back in school board meetings and to question teachers directly.
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https://crosscut.com/politics/2023/09/national-culture-wars-race-lgbtq-rights-come-wa-schools