Melissa Ross
LGBT students in the Clay County Public Schools confronted Superintendent Charlie Van Zant Jr. in the wake of his remarks about the Obama administration’s directive on transgender bathroom access in public education.
Van Zant made his feelings known through the use of a robocalling system that went out to some 35,000 households in the district.
“This phone call was hurtful, discriminatory, and made students feel unsafe,” said one student, who identified themself as president of their school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. The comments were made directly to Van Zant at a school board meeting. Video of the entire statement can be viewed here.
“Not only was it hateful, it was placing your personal, religious and political views into a secular school,” the student added, to applause.
Van Zant, who is up for re-election, recently posted this video outlining his intent to disregard the White House’s directive on allowing transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they identify as. He sent the audio from that video clip through the school district’s ParentLink notification system, sparking criticism from his opponents on the School Board for what they called an unethical and partisan use of the robo-calling system.
The directive does not have the force of law.
