In the quiet suburb of Elk Grove, California, Pleasant Grove Elementary School has found itself at the center of a controversy after parents learned about a third-grade teacher’s initiative to start a “secret” LGBTQ club on campus.
The club was aimed at supposedly promoting “inclusivity” among fourth and sixth graders who might be curious about their sexuality and gender identity—however, the controversy centers on the decision to start this club without obtaining parental consent.
Parents at a California elementary school have been left outraged after discovering a ‘secret’ LGBTQ club set up by a teacher.
The third-grade staffer, who was not identified, formed the ‘you be you’ at Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Elk Grove.
The teacher invited students in the fourth through sixth grade to attend the private meetings.
Brittani Cortina, who has a second and a fourth grader at the school, said her older child told her the teacher went into class and told the students about the club.
Cortina said: ‘The teacher came in and spoke about how boys like boys and girls like girls.’
Parents gathered at Elk Grove Unified’s School board meeting last week to voice their fury about the the lack of transparency from the district.
Kirk Thomas, a parent whose kids are in the district, told CBS13 “There was no permission slip. There was no notification to parents.”
The creation of an LGBTQ club without parent’s knowledge or consent is a decision further underscoring concerns about school districts indoctrinating children into far-leftist ideology related to sexuality and gender identity. The fact that the district is refusing to be transparent only makes the issue worse.
“The district isn’t really giving any answers on what was happening, what the guidelines were, what the curriculum was,” said Heidi Moore, another concerned parent.
However, some parents voiced support for the group and defended the secrecy.
But, for parent Tiffany Woods she was part of the small group of parents, who were in favor.
‘It is critical to mental health and overall well being,’ she voiced. ‘having that extra support and having that validation to help them navigate throughout the day is crucial.’
Schools are allowed to have LGBTQ clubs, as well as others, on campus. However, the fact that Pleasant Grove appears to have formed its club without notifying parents or requiring permission to allow students to join is suspicious in light of the national debate over efforts to push LGBTQ ideology on children.
This problem has been particularly pressing when it comes to school district’s handling of gender identity. Several districts have taken to requiring teachers to conceal information on children exhibiting symptoms of gender dysphoria from their parents.
In this case, it is fortunate that parents found out about the group and were willing to speak out about it. However, the question remains: How many other districts are creating these groups and getting away with it because parents are unaware?