LGBT Network To Host Family Town Hall Against Student Discrimination

HAUPPAUGE, NY — An LGBTQ advocacy organization is taking action to address student discrimination.

The LGBT Network, "the home and voice for LGBT people", their families and support systems in Long Island and Queens, will hold a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, to launch an offensive response against the "epidemic of hatred" and attacks on LGBT students and teachers in local schools.

The meeting will take place at LGBT Network headquarters, located at 125 Kennedy Dr., Suite 100, in Hauppauge at 6:30 p.m.

Hundreds are expected to attend, the network said in a press release.

The organization will launch a four-point plan to defend LGBT community members against discrimination and "move the needle forward" for inclusivity and visibility in schools.

The plan includes: recruiting and providing training to community members who believe in inclusion for all to run for school and library boards; establishing community representatives from all 124 Long Island school districts; and a new families coalition.

It also encourages a force of LGBT and allied community member visibility at school and library board meetings to "show strength, unity and protect families from the extreme right wing intimidation" tactics.

“The goal is simple," said David Kilmnick, president and founder of LGBT Network. "We must fight the hate that is permeating in our schools and school boards, end discrimination against LGBT youth and teachers, and not let these right wing hate groups run around unfettered to spread conspiracy theories and lies and intimidate and attack our children and families."

The meeting comes weeks after more than 600 students, families, Connetquot Teachers Association and community members, rallied against the Connetquot School District's ban on Progress Pride flags in the classrooms.

Governor Kathy Hochul then directed the State Division of Human Rights to investigate the district's actions.

The LGBT Network also plans to sue the district.

At a board of education meeting, president Jackie Napolitano-Furno, addressed the issue at hand, explaining how a student felt uncomfortable about the Progress Pride flag in a teacher's classroom, and "immediately looked into" their concerns.

"Earlier this year, students reported feeling uncomfortable about a flag that was being displayed on the wall in a particular classroom directly adjacent to the American flag," she continued. "This flag, which was at least twice the size of the American flag on display, was the Progress Pride Flag. The reference to the size of the flag is merely being provided in order to give a visual reference to its placement in the classroom."

The teacher was asked to compromise by keeping the Rainbow flag hung, but take the Progress Pride flag down.

"The district strives to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all," said Napolitano-Furno.

However, the LGBT Network believes that the district's action has made schools more unsafe for LGBTQ youth.

"We are going back to old school organizing," said Kilmnick. "Getting out in the streets, building a multi-tiered plan of action and sustained response that will lift the voices of the majority of Long Island families and bring the fundamental change, safety, education and visibility every child deserves."