Massachusetts Middle School Students Stage Protest Over Pride Event

Just the News: Students at a Massachusetts middle school staged a protest against the school’s pride month celebrations during which they tore down rainbow-themed decorations and reportedly chanted, “USA are my pronouns.”

The Marshall Simonds Middle School in Burlington had intended to host a pride celebration on June 2, but numerous students felt obligated to participate after being asked to wear rainbow clothing, according to the Daily Mail. They further indicated they were offended by a poster that included a quote from author Tennessee Williams seemingly implying that humans are not naturally heterosexual.

A bunch of middle schoolers at @BurlMASchools protested the pride celebrations at school. They wore red, white, and blue clothing instead of rainbow clothes, chanted “USA are my pronouns”, and took down pride flags. pic.twitter.com/Na3FmqWIDG

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 13, 2023

“What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it’s curved like a road through mountains,” reads the Williams quote, which was included on a poster of people holding rainbow flags.

The demonstration drew harsh condemnation from the school district’s administrators.

Principal Cari Perchase indicated to local outlet WHDH that “groups of students were heard chanting, ‘U.S.A are my pronouns,’ and students glared intimidatingly at faculty members showing pride… Students were shamed into removing their stickers or covering their clothing with rainbows.”

Massachusetts middle schoolers stage anti-Groomer protest in school after being told to wear Pride clothing

Decked out in red, white and blue, the students tore down decorations & chanted their pronouns were “U S A”

Parents said students felt forced to participate and were… pic.twitter.com/nLt0MxhREL

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) June 13, 2023

Perchase further said that she had received feedback suggesting the demonstration was a response to the school’s failure to observe Memorial Day. The school has since apologized to its students for what it deemed an “oversight.”

Superintendent Eric Conti issued a more pointed statement, stressing that student participation in the pride event had been optional and accusing the demonstrators of homophobia and seemingly attributing their actions to their religious, moral, or cultural upbringings.

Middle schoolers staged a revolt on the day they were told to wear rainbow colors to celebrate pride. They wore red, white, and blue, and said their pronouns were "U.S.A." Woke faculty is freaking out. https://t.co/UEZyj4RkyV

— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) June 14, 2023

“I recognize that discussions and celebrations of individual identity are complex and impacted by individual values, religions, and cultural norms, the result of which may include expressions of racism, anti-religious hate, ableism, and in this case homophobia,” he wrote.

He further wrote in a letter to parents that the district is “obligated to provide a safe environment for all students to feel safe, seen and respected without retaliation.”