Parents at a Californian primary school have been shocked to discover that a teacher created a secret LGBT club for children as young as eight. Students could attend the club at Pleasant Grove Elementary School in the state capital of Sacramento without parental consent.
The You Be You Club also known as the UBU Club was described as a lunchtime space for “boys who crush on boys” and “girls who crush on girls” in Grades Three to Six. The school tried to keep the club a secret, but CBN News reports that only lasted until the fourth grader son of Mary Congdon came home confused about his gender identity after hearing Third Grade Teacher Daniel Bishop talk about same sex attraction, reported the California Family Council.
Ms. Congdon explained what happened next. “I immediately reached out to his teacher bewildered why we the parents had no recollection of hearing about this new club. Her response was that it was because it’s a safe place for students to go and discuss their sexuality without having to come out to their parents.’”
“I’m not sure when Mr. Bishop began paying for my son’s clothes, housing, meals; when has he taken my son to his doctor’s appointments, sports games, church or tucked my son in at night. He is not the parent. I reminded my son and his younger second grader brother that night. We are your safe place. We are your parents. Bullying is inappropriate no matter the reasons, and should be handled and dealt with by your school principal,” she added.
When the furious mother inquired why permission slips were not sent home Principal Deidra Wood allegedly responded by saying that “they feared parents would say ‘No'”. She also claimed similar clubs had already been started in five to 10 other primary schools which would be impacted by whatever decision was made at Pleasant Grove School.
The school has halted the club for the time being, while seeking guidance from lawyers and state education officials which many parents noted should have been done before setting up the club in the first place. As one of them pointed out: “Permission slips are required for the gardening club, so why not for this club? Pleasant Grove staff betrayed the trust of parents when they held this UBU club during lunch time and did not notify parents or require permission slips for the club.”
That parent added: “It’s also alarming that the school district has ignored concerned parents for weeks, but recently sent a flyer to all district teachers, inviting them to a training course on how to respond to resistance from parents against LGBT Clubs.”
Greg Burt who’s a parent at the school and Vice President of the California Family Council which claims the California Teachers Association has been putting on seminars for teachers for several years showing them how to start LGBT clubs and invite kids without letting their parents know.
The Family Council noted two teachers from another school recruited a little girl to their UBU Club, then socially transitioned her to a male identity and kept it secret from the girl’s mother who sued the school for violating her parental rights and eventually received a A$150,000 settlement.
CBN News reports some Pleasant Grove parents are now considering suing the school.
