Tensions reached a fever pitch on Tuesday night outside the Glendale Unified School District’s headquarters in California, where a heated confrontation between parents and activists on one side and members of Antifa clad in masks and pink bandanas on the other unfolded. Parents, many from the city’s Armenian and Hispanic communities, were voicing opposition to the school board’s agenda to promote LGBTQ Pride Month to young children. Others present at the gathering expressed support for this pro-Pride stance.
“We’re going to vote every one of you [pointing to the school board] out,” one concerned parent warned during the meeting, as reported by The Daily Signal. This debate has caused great consternation among families within the district, with many opting to withdraw their children from classes—some elementary schools had only 40% attendance on June 2nd. Three individuals were arrested after tempers flared outside of the building due to what police labeled as an “exceedance of peaceful assembly.”
Armenian parents are not alone in this case; members of Hispanic families have joined in protesting what they view as an inappropriate teaching of LGBTQ+ values and concepts too young. “Bringing in curriculum for K-6 on gender ideology, that is what we’re against,” Glendale parent Any Torosyan shared with KTLA. Other complaints included worries that students would feel uncomfortable sharing locker rooms or restrooms with those of different genders.
At least one teacher working within the district defended this approach by noting that kids understand their own gender identity by age 3 and should be free of persecution. The teacher went on further still to discuss how these topics are rooted in systemic oppressive forces such as heteronormative Judeo-Christian beliefs or capitalist ideals.
The Glendale Unified School District released a statement addressing these issues: “Recently, intentional and harmful disinformation has been circulating about what is being taught in our district and the ways we serve our students…Parents/guardians may not opt their child out of any lesson referencing LGBTQ+ individuals and history, as dictated by the FAIR Act,” referring to California’s Fair Education Act from 2011 which requires these histories be covered in development/maturation courses along with sex education classes outlined under 2016’s California Healthy Youth Act which mandates instruction on topics such as gender expression, identity, and stereotypes related to negative prejudices towards these people groups.
During the school board meeting, there was a physical altercation between Armenian men and Antifa members and far-left protestors in which the Armenian men beat the mess out of them.
Breaking: Armenian-American men fight against #Antifa & far-left protesters outside the Glendale (CA) school board meeting. Immigrant families have been furious that elementary schools are doing pride events. Antifa have gathered to oppose the parents. pic.twitter.com/1LCTeCgc32
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 7, 2023
Breaking: Glendale (CA) Police beat back the Armenian-American men who want to fight #Antifa outside the school board meeting. The immigrant families oppose pride celebrations in schools. Antifa, communists & far-left protesters gathered to support that. pic.twitter.com/QTMmKeNR95
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 7, 2023
Glendale (CA) police rush in and save #Antifa & far-left protesters during a fight against Armenian-Americans outside a school board meeting. Many parents of immigrant background disapprove of the schools celebrating pride events. pic.twitter.com/i1L2P1aBxt
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 7, 2023
WATCH today in Glendale, CA. You know you messed up when the papa bears show up. These are Armenian papa bears. The school district is also pushing age-inappropriate sexual content to 4-year-olds. Antifa came out to fight the dads. The papa bears WON. pic.twitter.com/bKWn5Lio25
— Asra Nomani • Defeating the #WokeArmy (@AsraNomani) June 7, 2023