Defecating on a Pride flag is shameful — and Paso schools’ weak response made it worse

The sickening defacement of a Pride flag stolen from a classroom at Paso Robles High School was an outrage, but you would never know it from the meek response by the Paso Robles Unified School District.

Instead of strongly condemning what happened and offering unqualified support to LGBTQ students, the district superintendent sent a mixed message by sharply limiting the display of the iconic rainbow flag.

It announced a new district policy: No flags bigger than 2 feet by 2 feet may be displayed in classrooms, and no flags that are “alterations of the American flag” may be displayed.

It also attempted to water down the powerful symbolism of the rainbow flag.

“I want to start by reiterating my statement from last year that rainbow flags mean different things to different people but to many are a symbol of safety, inclusion and equity,” Superintendent Curt Dubost wrote in a letter.

“Means different things to different people”?

Well that’s courageous!

Look, we get that this is a sensitive issue and the district is somewhat justified in its concern about “politicized” flags. Several other public agencies have been struggling with that as well.

Just last May Paso Robles Police Chief Ty Lewis — who is now city manager — removed a “thin blue line” flag honoring police that had been placed on city property outside the police station by a community group.

“In an attempt to avoid any controversy and preserve public trust, I ordered the flag be removed from the light pole,” Lewis wrote on Facebook.

He was then accused of “appeasing woke behavior.”

So yes, it’s understandable that the Paso school district would tread lightly when it comes to flag displays, but it handled the recent incident in the worst possible way.

To recap, a student stole a rainbow flag from a teacher’s classroom. Students then entered a restroom and tried to stuff it down a toilet — and in an ultimate act of disrespect, one student defecated on it.

Then, they had the audacity to post a video of that horrific act on TikTok. (The video has since been taken down from the site.)

The district reported that the students had been punished but did not say what that punishment was.

Its entire response was stunningly underwhelming.

It should have immediately issued a statement saying such behavior will not be tolerated, and offered its unqualified support to LGBTQ students.

After all, the district if required under state Education Code to protect LGBTQ students from harassment.

Instead, it waited until two weeks after the incident to release a statement of concern, and it coupled it with an announcement limiting the size and type of flags that are allowed.

“It’s obviously just banning the Pride flag altogether unless you want those little mini ones,” student Eve Barajas, president of the school’s Equity Club, told a Tribune reporter.

LGBTQ students have said they feel as if they are the ones being punished, which is understandable.

This was the epitome of a “teachable moment” and the district blew it by clamping down on displays of the very symbol that makes students feel accepted and protected.

This is the same flag that’s been flown at the state Capitol in observance of Gay Pride month, as well as at many city halls and on college campuses.

If Paso Robles students are “triggered” by its display, so be it; the school district should not be pandering to them by trying to cut it down to size, so to speak.

Keep in mind, this is the same district where the school board took the preemptive step of banning the teaching of critical race theory — in part because they fear it would make white students feel bad about themselves.

Fortunately, Paso High students are stepping up to do what the district administration should have done in the first place.

They’ve been posting handmade signs telling LGBTQ students they are valued and welcome on campus. And some student leaders are hosting a community forum on Oct. 20, “Coming Out Against Hate,” from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center of Paso Robles High School.

“We will join others in telling our stories, challenging acts of hate and calling on our leaders to do better,” students wrote in a Tribune viewpoint. “We invite other teachers, students, parents and friends to join us in this important work.”

That’s an invitation district leaders must accept; their recent actions show they have much to learn about how to make Paso Robles school campuses safe and welcoming places for LGBTQ students.

This story was originally published October 15, 2021 at 5:30 AM.