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Big Walnut school board proposes resolution to ban LGBTQ+ and other flags

Parents showed up to Thursday’s school board meeting with pride flags and attire, expressing their concerns and opposition toward the proposal.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Big Walnut Local School Board of Education is considering a resolution that would limit the display of certain flags, including LGBTQ+ flags. 

According to the resolution, the school board said that “banners, signs or symbols that promote activist causes, or are otherwise deemed controversial, shall not be displayed in classrooms or school buildings.”

Only the following flags would be allowed to be displayed:

  • The United States flag
  • The State of Ohio flag
  • Military flag
  • Flags from other states and countries

“The Board recognizes the importance of classroom spaces as environments exclusively dedicated to enriching content area learning and inspiring academic success for our students,” the resolution said in part. “The Big Walnut Local School District Board of Education is committed to making decisions that align with our declared educational philosophy and goals.”

The resolution will immediately go into effect if it passes.

Parents showed up to Thursday’s school board meeting, expressing their concerns and opposition toward the proposal. The parents arrived with pride flags and some wore attire supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

A parent – Ashley Ryder – spoke during the meeting, commenting on how the resolution language is vague as to what is considered to be controversial.

“Who decides what’s controversial? You? Many would consider this resolution controversial, so does that mean it can’t be hung in the classroom,” Ryder said. “What’s your definition of an activist cause? Cancer awareness is a cause that I’m sure you wouldn’t want to take out of our schools.”

School board president Doug Crowl and board members Alice Nicks and Angela Graziosi made statements in favor of the resolution.

"Let’s say we have a child who grew up in a household that's very religious." If the flag resolution passes, he said, that child would feel "not condemned" when walking into the classroom — provoking laughter from the audience,” Crowl said.

A second reading of the resolution and final vote could take place on Dec. 14.  

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