CARLSBAD — Students at Carlsbad and Sage Creek high schools walked out of class in protest on May 30 over the school board’s recent decision to delay voting on raising the rainbow flag for Pride month and a school vice principal’s opposition to gender ideology in school curriculums.
The walkouts were organized by Carlsbad seniors Ava Grosely (Carlsbad High) and Kayley Teagle (Sage Creek), who said LGBTQ students need support, love and protection on both campuses.
Nearly 300 students participated in the walkout, many waving pride and transgender flags and holding signs.
Teagle said students were disappointed with the Carlsbad Unified School District board after trustees delayed voting on a proposal to raise the rainbow flag to support LGBTQ-plus students and staff during Pride month.
After the board’s decision to delay the vote during a May 25 special meeting, Teagle said she was in tears and had to leave school.
“It’s about making every student on campus … to feel included,” Teagle said. “We created an Instagram account, and students submitted all kinds of stories about being discriminated against. Some were told to go back to their countries, that they smelled like their food … and LGBTQ were told to kill themselves.”
In 2021, the Carlsbad Unified School District board approved a proclamation recognizing the month of June as LGBTQ+ and Pride month. But several students said the flag would further demonstrate the district welcomes all students regardless of sexual orientation, religion, race or creed.
Grosley, a formerly homeless student who identifies as LGBTQ, also said the pride flag symbolizes a place where students can feel safe.
“I think it’s important for the month of June,” Grosley said. “It’s a message that all students are included regardless of how they identify. It’s a symbol that you can be whoever you want to be and be safe at school.”
Another recent issue behind the student walkout arose when Ethan Williams, vice principal at Carlsbad High School, spoke on May 19 at Mission Church, questioning the school district’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategic plan.
Williams did not respond to an interview request.
According to slides and video recordings of his remarks at the church, Williams said curriculums based on sexual identity and gender ideology have no place in schools.
“They weren’t the best comments toward LGBTQ students,” Grosely said. “There’s been a lot of conflicting emotions about certain administrators’ comments as well as the decisions from school board members.”
In the recording, Williams said DEI and handling transgender students is an emotional topic for “so many people” and called for full transparency from the district regarding student curriculum and parental rights.
Williams also spoke about the law and how minors do not need the presence or permission of their parents, or legal guardians, to make certain decisions related to their sexual identity, recalling a situation when he was principal at Clairemont High School last year.
“A ninth-grade girl said she wanted to change in the boys locker room,” Williams said in the recording. “What the law tells me is I cannot involve the parent if the student doesn’t want me to involve the parent. So, if that 13-year student asks me not to tell the parents, and I do, I’m in violation of the law.”
Superintendent Ben Churchill condemned Williams’ remarks in a statement released last week, saying the district will continue to maintain a safe, respectful and positive learning environment for all students.
Scott Davison, director of the Carlsbad Education Alliance, criticized Churchill, saying Williams has a fundamental right to free speech and freedom of religion under the First Amendment and Churchill “deliberately misrepresents” his comments.
