A Pride event that featured drag queens took place on the grounds of a Grosse Pointe elementary school, angering some parents and causing the acting superintendent of schools to issue a statement saying the district did nothing wrong.
The celebration, which was billed as family friendly, took place June 20 and was sponsored by the local non-profit civil and human rights organization WEGP (Welcoming Everyone Grosse Pointe). Participants started at the parking lot next to Richard Elementary and walked to Maire Elementary for games, story time and drag performances.
Video of the event — including a clip that seemed to show a child handing money to a drag queen ― surfaced on the Grosse Pointe Public Schools Concerned Parents Facebook page.
On June 25, Roy Bishop Jr., acting superintendent of the Grosse Pointe Public School System, sent an email letter to district parents stating that the Pride event was not a school event and was not sponsored by the district. “This was an event hosted by a third-party organization that rented district property in accordance with the district’s facility use policies,” the superintendent said in his letter. He added that the event took place on a weekend during summer break and that attendance was voluntary.
The district rents facilities to offset the cost of maintaining its buildings and grounds, the superintendent said. He said WEGP submitted an application to use the facility in February and that it was approved in March by central office administrators. He said WEGP has rented school facilities in the past to host similar events.
He added: “The district’s approval of a facility rental does not constitute an endorsement of an organization’s views, activities, or message. As a public school system, we strive to ensure all students, families, and staff feel safe, welcome, and valued, while applying district policies consistently to organizations seeking use of our facilities.”
Many of the people commenting on the Grosse Pointe Public Schools Concerned Parents page seemed to think the Pride event and drag queens were part of a district-endorsed program, and expressed concern the schools were indoctrinating children.
In a post on its Facebook page, WEGP said:
“We recognize that people will have differing views about aspects of the event, and respectful dialogue is part of any healthy community.
“What we hope is not lost in the current conversation is the broader purpose and experience of the day. GP Pride was a joyful celebration that brought together families, students, alumni, faith leaders, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, community partners, and local law enforcement. Families chose whether and how to participate, and attendees described the event as welcoming, joyful, and meaningful.”
This is not the first time LGBTQ+ issues have been raised in the district. Earlier this year, a parent sued the district in federal court, saying the Grosse Pointe Public School System violated his First Amendment right to free speech and also defamed him when it banned him from district buildings after he posted a video critical of a LGBTQ+ flag in a classroom and suggested the teachers were indoctrinating students.
Contact Georgea Kovanis: gkovanis@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: In Grosse Pointe, anger over drag queens at summer Pride event at school
Reporting by Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
