A heated school board meeting turned chaotic this week in Monroe County, New York, as parents voiced their outrage over a controversial LGBTQIA+ children’s book featuring explicit content.
The book, The Rainbow Parade: A Celebration of LGBTQIA+ Identities and Allies, was reportedly shown to elementary school children in grades 1 through 5, ages 5 to 11.
During the meeting on Tuesday, February 11, parents flooded the Penfield School District auditorium, demanding answers from the superintendent, Tasha Potter, and the school board.
Their primary concern: the book’s inclusion of nudity and depictions of bondage in what they viewed as inappropriate material for young students.
The book, which aims to promote diversity and break down stereotypes, follows the story of a young girl attending an LGBTQ+ parade with her two mothers and another child exploring their gender identity.
While the book’s intention is to teach inclusivity, it contains illustrations of a naked person shown from behind, as well as scenes involving characters dressed in BDSM attire.
John Feathers, a father of one of the students, expressed his disgust at the book’s content.
“If you think that’s appropriate for children to see, then there’s something wrong with you,” he said, adding that the depictions of nudity and bondage were unacceptable for kids.
READ ALSO: 4 arrested in daycare child abuse allegations in South Carolina
Feathers pointed out one illustration that showed a man’s bare buttocks and another that depicted two men in bondage gear.
Despite the parents’ concerns, Superintendent Potter attempted to calm the crowd by referencing proper procedures for objecting to school materials, but her comments were met with boos and shouts from the audience.
“You need to have a mental evaluation,” Feathers shot back, echoing the frustration of many parents who felt the material was inappropriate for young children.
The situation escalated when the school officials abruptly ended the meeting without hearing public comments. Parents were further enraged by the decision, as a parent filming the event expressed disbelief at the lack of response to their concerns.
The viral video from the meeting has sparked a broader debate online, with figures like Elon Musk commenting on the controversy. Musk shared the video with a simple remark: “A kindergartner…”
