Three youth-related Richland Source articles caught my eye, “Mansfield Pride Parade, Festival moves to June,” and “Can Bible-based instruction improve student behaviors?” and “Love on a Mission’s Queer Prom on standby.”
The short answer is LGBTQ+ youth deserve our support whether at pride, prom, or school, and the key to this is keeping everything diverse, equal, inclusive, secular, and neutral.
First, I was proud to see such a strong turnout of support for the LGBTQ+ community at Mansfield Pride, and that there were special activities just for kids, along with very talented singers and drag performers, both kings and queens, displaying their beautiful art for all ages to enjoy.
The only real danger to our youth comes from conservative Republican bills in our Ohio legislator that are trying to deny LGBTQ+ youth their health care, bathrooms, and sports, and why supporting only Democratic candidates in November will protect the civil rights of our LGBTQ+ kids.
Regarding the push for Bible-based instruction at public schools, this worries me as some faith groups are openly hostile to LGBTQ+ civil rights and minority religions that differ from the Christian world view.
Also, as an Atheist parent, I strongly disagree with any Bible-based curriculum as a solution to student behavior.
If you want to support public schools, vote to pass all public school levies, fund mental health services, make sure every child receives a breakfast and lunch at school, and stop banning books that show minority and LGBTQ+ perspectives and authors.
Finally, to assert that, ”research shows a coalition between religion and character” is subjective, because being a good person and cooperating with others is just common sense, and a Freedom From Religion Foundation article warns of the dangers of released time Bible study, and how it may harm school districts in the long run due to lost classroom time, and by isolating those who have a different world view other than Christian,
https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-urges-all-ohio-school-districts-don-t-allow-released-time-bible-study/ so please work to keep public schools secular, and support our LGBTQ+ youth.
Nancy Dollard
Former Mansfield Resident and Lexington HS graduate
Uniontown, Ohio