Teachers spark outcry by wearing 'equality' badges with 'black power' fist, pride flag colors

A teachers' union in mid-Michigan has angered some members of the community by wearing so-called "equality badges" that, despite the name, seem to suggest favoritism for certain groups based on race, physical ability, and sexual orientation.

On Monday night, hundreds of people piled into the local public library in Fenton, Michigan, about an hour northwest of Detroit. There, the Fenton Area Public Schools district held a meeting and addressed concerns about the badges.

Proponents insist that the badge was designed to promote inclusivity. "It’s a way to show our students that we support them and we see them," said Chuck Miller, a Fenton High School chemistry teacher and the vice president of the Fenton Education Association. "The more our students are seen, the more they feel they have a community and support, the better they do, not just academically but socially."

During the meeting, Superintendent Heidi Ciesielski expressed similar sentiments. "Building that environment means having schools and classrooms where all students feel seen, known, cared about, included and supported," Ciesielski said. "Where diversity of thought, culture, and background that defines us all is welcome and where all children and adults feel they belong.

"Surely, we can all agree on that," she asserted.

But some did not agree. On the badge, the word "equality" is spelled using various symbols, many of which are associated with far-left activism, including the "black power" fist, pride flag colors, and an amalgam of the symbol for male and female, which may imply transgenderism or intersexuality.

One unidentified man who spoke at the meeting explained his misgivings about the badge: "The colorful symbols used to spell out the word 'equality' are in most cases age-inappropriate, they are culturally divisive, not inclusive of all students, disparaging of those not listed, potentially racist, and the symbol representing the letter ‘T’ promotes an absolute falsehood."

Other parents expressed concerns that the badges sexualize children. "We feel that it represents sexuality, and like, maybe encouraging conversations about sexuality with minor kids," said a woman identified only as Julie.

Julie later added that she supports "the LGBTQ community" but still worries that the badge might cross a line regarding district policy.

Many union members dismissed those concerns. "Sexual orientation is not sex," said Laura Wagonlander, an elementary teacher in Fenton. "I have a picture of my family in my class. It announces my sexual orientation because it shows me with my husband."

An area high school student likewise spoke out in support of the badge. "The badge makes me feel as a student more loved, heard, seen and cared for," said Avary LaClear. "They represent compassion in our community."

The Michigan Education Association, which strongly supports the badge, claimed that 25 out of 30 individuals who spoke at the meeting favored the badge as well. It also noted that many meeting attendees wore the color red in support of the teachers' union, though at least some of those wearing red were union members. Other supporters wore clothing that demonstrated an affiliation with the pride movement.

The school board did not take action one way or the other at the meeting. The next Fenton school board meeting is scheduled for May 1.

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