OKEECHOBEE — Ahead of the Oct. 13 Okeechobee County School Board meeting, an item related to LGBT History Month was pulled from the agenda after posts on social media were critical of the announcement.

The original proclamation said that “the Okeechobee County School Board appreciates and recognizes the importance of LGBT History Month as an effective means of educating and calling to action the citizens of Okeechobee County to work together to promote equal protection of all Okeechobee County students and staff, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”

After becoming aware of the proclamation a week before the meeting, some social media users speculated that this meant children in kindergarten were going to be taught about being gay while others claimed this was an example of what they called a “demonic agenda” being shoved down their throats.
In an effort to avoid the controversy altogether, the item was pulled from the agenda the day before the meeting and was not considered by the board.

“I’m the one who put that on the agenda and I am the one who took it off,” said Superintendent Ken Kenworthy at the Oct. 13 meeting. “So that is on me if there is anger out there to be displayed.”

LGBT History Month was first started in 1994 by a Missouri high school teacher named Rodney Wilson. Although not included as part of the original proclamation, every year LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 different figures from history. A few of this year’s icons included Anne McClain, former NASA astronaut and U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served as flight engineer for Expeditions 58/59 to the International Space Station, and Deborah Batts, a federal judge who presided over prominent cases involving political corruption, terrorism and criminal justice.

Similar proclamations have been made in other school districts. The School District of Palm Beach County has recognized the month from as far back as 2012, as well as Broward County. The Martin County School Board has the same proclamation on their agenda later this month, with some members even expressing concern that the proclamation isn’t enough.

“A proclamation is just some words on paper,” said Martin County School Board Vice Chairman Tony Anderson at an Oct. 6 workshop. “People have to have a good heart, love everybody and stop discriminating. That ain’t going to work for everybody because it just ain’t in them. Another thing is people need to be educated. That isn’t going to work for everyone, either, because it’s impossible. The one thing that should work and has to work when all else fails is policy. When you discriminate, when you belittle, when you mistreat people, you need to be held accountable. And that has to be on the books.”

Only one member on the Martin County School Board was totally against the upcoming proclamation, Michael DiTerlizzi.

“I have no problem with being inclusive of people and being tolerant of people, I just don’t want to teach it,” said DiTerlizzi at the Oct. 6 workshop.

Despite not being on the agenda, two members of the public spoke about the proclamation during the public comment section of the Okeechobee County School Board meeting.

Okeechobee resident Adam Cohen spoke first and said that while he sees the good intentions of the proclamations, it is not the best timing with current divisive atmosphere in the country. He went on to add that if the ultimate goal is normalization, the focus shouldn’t be on one characteristic and instead labels should be eliminated.

The second and final speaker was OHS drama teacher Deborah Raulerson. “Usually I come to these board meetings for something my students are being recognized for or something they contributed or achieved,” said Raulerson. “Tonight I’m here to be a voice for my students who don’t have one. I’m disappointed and ashamed that you just confirmed every LGBT person’s worst fear. That they are not worthy of mentioning. That they are not safe for public acknowledgment. You have invalidated all of them and given their bullies justification. I’ve spent the last 14 years trying build relationships with my students, especially the marginalized students. Our school should be a safe place for all students, not just those who look and act like us. We all are worthy of love and recognition. Actions like this are why kids leave Okeechobee and never come back. I’ll go back to my job tomorrow and let them all know they are loved and that they are worthy, that they all have a place at Okeechobee High School.”