‘Firestorm’ of criticism won’t keep Bellingham schools from teaching about diversity
A parent’s complaint that a picture book about a transgender girl was read to a first-grade class in Bellingham Public Schools will not change school policy, Superintendent Greg Baker told the school board.
That’s despite a “firestorm” of criticism from right-wing media and other sources over the book “I Am Jazz,” Baker said at an online meeting Wednesday, May 12.
“Our work in this district is to ensure that our kids and our families see themselves in our school and our literature,” Baker said.
“If that’s a character that is transgender — for some people just hearing that word elicits a response that there’s no place for that word, really, in schools — we have kids and staff that are transgender in our community and in our schools, and they need to feel part of (our community) and accepted as well,” Baker said.
Bellingham Schools employees fielded emails and phone calls last week, including transphobic and antisemitic slurs, after stories appeared in right-wing media that named the teacher who read “I Am Jazz” but gave anonymity to the complaining parent.
School board president Jenn Mason, who is Jewish, told The Bellingham Herald that she was also targeted for harassment.
Mason owns Wink Wink, a “woman-owned, inclusive, all-ages, not creepy, sex shop” in downtown Bellingham.
In a message posted last week at the school district website, Baker said the book is part of the district’s recent commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and meets state guidelines for age-appropriate education.
“Reading diverse books and learning about all kinds of lives is consistent with our values in our strategic plan, The Bellingham Promise. We believe all children should be loved, and we believe diversity enhances a strong and healthy community,” Baker said online.
“I Am Jazz” is based on the true story of Jazz Jennings, a 20-year-old transgender woman and queer-rights activist whose TLC reality show is in its sixth season.
“The message of ‘I Am Jazz’ is a child reflecting on their own gender identity and that all people are unique and wonderful,” Baker said online. “Gender identity and expression are found in the Washington State Health and Physical Education standards.”
A state law requiring comprehensive science-based sexual-health education was the focus of Referendum 90, which was approved by 58% of Washington voters in 2020.
“I think this is going to be a lifelong journey,” Baker told the school board. “There’s lots of aspects to this. There’s certainly pieces of this that people react to that I think in some ways is based out of ignorance and not necessarily knowing all the facts. Some of this has to do with a political lens, a religious lens, so it’s pretty complex. One of the things it does is open up lots of conversation.”
