By Guy Page
Stymied by its failure last week to force the cancellation of a Vermont Parents Rights in Education meeting in Vergennes, Outright Vermont wants all Vermont school districts to ban future meetings of the group.
Under pressure from Outright Vermont, the state’s leading LGBTQ advocacy group, the Addison Northwest School District reportedly had rescinded permission for local parents to hear a Zoom presentation by de-transitioning expert Walt Heyer June 20. However, a letter from the Liberty Counsel advocacy group persuaded them to reconsider.
Vermont law and legal precedent requires schools to provide equal facilities access for all citizens’ groups, unless the meeting poses a direct threat to public safety. Yet Outright Vermont openly calls for a ban on its website:
“Sign this open letter to the Addison Northwest School District Superintendent urging them to rescind their authorization for the “Parents Rights in Education” group to meet on school property,” Outright Vermont asks supporters. “Though the district is bound by the limitations of their present policy, this petition shows broad support for updated policy that would better protect the school and community in the future.”
Outright Vermont wants the group banned in all Vermont schools – not just Vergennes. The June 16 message urges: “School and District administrators: check your policies! Like other school districts in Vermont, you may have strong value statements showing your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, but if you don’t have these values reflected in policies, there may be a side door open left open to exploitation by those who want to stop the progress of inclusion and equity.”
The group’s call to deprive organizations of equal use of public facilities follows years of successful advocacy for non-discrimination and equal access to public facilities on the basis of gender identity.
Outright Vermont’s public call for depriving the grassroots parents’ group of meeting in public spaces is the third example this month of transgender advocates seeking to blunt the public speech of those who disagree. As reported last week, Burlington pro-trans advocates are tearing down stickers questioning ‘gender-affirming’ ideology and drug treatments. June 10, a group of five church people holding scripture signs outside a Lyndonville library’s ‘queer’ poetry reading were criticized as ‘menacing’ and examples of ‘terrorism.’
Even the headline of Outright Vermont’s June 16 web posting appears to underplay the value of free speech and public discourse on this controversial issue: “Trans Lives Are Not Up For Debate.”
So does the accompanying text: “A far cry from ‘promoting dialogue,’ this event is part of a coordinated, national smear campaign that aims to instill fear, censor and obscure the truth about trans lives, and justify deadly restrictions on the rights of LGBTQ+ people – especially youth. The organizers’ choice to locate their hateful event inside the school building, where a policy loophole prevents the school from revoking their access, directly impacts the safety and welcome of LGBTQ+students who spend the majority of their waking hours within those walls.”
Outright Vermont itself has a strong, state-funded presence in Vermont public schools. As Vermont Daily Chronicle reported last October, the organization’s funding totaled $1.23 million in 2021. $204,000 of that funding came from the government, including grants from the Vermont Department of Health. The group’s annual report says it performs “education & outreach work statewide for schools, communities, colleges, and organizations looking for support on preventing harassment, dealing with harassment, creating and supporting Queer/Straight Alliances (QSAs), and more.”
If banned from public schools, where could Vermont Parents Right in Education meet? Public meeting rooms in municipal buildings also are open to the public. However, municipal officials under similar pressure from Outright Vermont might argue that public schools are the logical venue for an education policy group.
Churches are an increasingly popular fallback option. However, legislation introduced by Rep. Laura Sibilia earlier this year would restrict the use of churches for ‘partisan and political’ events, at the risk of losing tax exempt status. Such legislation – if passed – might give church leaders second thoughts about allowing access to groups recommending local school policies.