Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty
A Wisconsin first-grade teacher is speaking out after multiple rainbow-themed songs were vetoed from her students' spring concert.
Waukesha Supt. James Sebert tells PEOPLE that the school’s principal and the central office administrator “determined that the song could be deemed controversial” based on theirControversial Issues in the Classroompolicy.
Although Tempel said she was told that the song was banned because Cyrus, 30, “is controversial,” she “thought for sure” the decision had to do with Parton’s popularity with drag queens and theLGBTQcommunity.
“Oh well, I can’t stop my students if they still sing ‘Rainbowland.’ It’s a fun, catchy song!” she wrote.
Tempel also shared lyrics from the 2017 collab featured on Cyrus' sixth studio albumYounger Now, which include: “Living in a Rainbowland / The skies are blue and things are grand / Wouldn’t it be nice to live in paradise / Where we’re free to be exactly who we are.”
“Let’s all dig down deep inside / Brush the judgment and fear aside,” the song continues. “Make wrong things right / And end the fight / ‘Cause I promise ain’t nobody gonna win (come on).”
On Thursday, Tempel gave an update that “Rainbow Connection” was unbanned thanks to emails from parents and local groupAlliance for Education. “I don’t know where I’d be without them,” she wrote.
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton.Kevin Mazur/Getty
According to Sebert, “Rainbow Connection” was selected to replace “Rainbowland” in the concert.
Sarah Schindler, whose daughter is in Tempel’s class, told theLos Angeles Timesthat the school board went through a “conservative flip” in recent years due to local outcry overCOVID-19policies.
“With that have come some policy changes that have been causing some controversy in our community,” said Schindler. “One of those is a controversial topic policy saying that teachers can’t have any kind of signage that could be deemed political. … Discussion of pronouns with students was another thing that came up. And teachers aren’t allowed to wear rainbows.”
RELATED VIDEO: Dolly Parton on Creating Hope & Giving Back: “Believe in Something Bigger Than Yourself”
According to the School District of Waukesha’snondiscrimination statement, it “does not discriminate in its admissions, programs, activities, services or employment” on any basis prohibited under federal law, explicitly including “sexual orientation” in its list of protected groups.
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After Florida Gov.Ron DeSantissigned H.B. 1557, largely scrutinized as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, into law last March, many states have adopted similar pieces of legislation making it illegal for teachers to discuss topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity with students.
As of last month,a record 340 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislationhave been introduced across the United States in 2023, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
source: people.com
