after tonites debate - come to the queer underground - all are welcome!

Parents upset over school photo display
Eugene (KMTR) - A photographic display at a Eugene school is causing controversy, and there's a meeting Thursday night to talk about it.

The display is up at Buena Vista-Meadowlark Elementary school is part of a traveling photo project put together by the Community Alliance for Lane County (CALC).

Some parents are upset about a photo of a transgender person which depicts a woman who is mixed race, with a slight beard. A short written biography of the woman that appears with the picture uses the word "queer." The objecting parents say it introduces an adult subject—sexuality—they don't think is appropriate for younger students.

The school’s principal, BJ Blake, says the display is supposed to expose students to pictures of people of mixed racial and ethnic backgrounds, like many of the students. Blake says she's not teaching kids about sex.

“When we talk about the photo, it's going to be only in the area of respect. And if you see that word, that word is never to be used to hurt, that word is never to be used to label, that word is never to be used to discriminate or harm anybody,” Blake said.

Some parents have written letters to the school. They say their children ask questions and they don't think a person can use the word “queer” in reference to a transgendered person, without talking about sex. Those parents think they are the ones who should bring that discussion up with their own children when they think their children are old enough to understand.
But other parents don't have a problem with the photo. They think personal bias is the problem.

Clark Barry, the parent of a first-grader, says parents like him have “concern for the innocence of their children. Are they ready for these discussions yet? They're still learning their ABC's, they're still learning how to spell, now we're going to bring in gender identification and chromosomes and a lot of other things that take us deep, deep, deep into philosophical debates.”

Another first-grade parent, Amanda Bowden-Gil, says, “It all comes down to educating our children and not discriminating and being open minded and lacking prejudice in general.”

The photos have been taken down and the captions are being revised to make the wording more relatable for elementary school students. But Blake says the photos will go back up and the word "queer" is expected to stay.

The meeting with parents is scheduled for Thursday night, May 21st at 6:00 p.m. at the school at 1500 Queens Way, off Cal Young Road in Eugene.

The Lane Educational Service District says the display will eventually circulate through other elementary schools in Lane County.