A group of homophobic high school students chanted ‘Make America straight again’ and threw candy and dirt at classmates during a homecoming parade in Kansas, it was reported on Saturday.
A parent of one member of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Olathe Northwest High School in Olathe, Kansas says that her daughter came home saddened on Thursday and that a number of teens were crying as a result of the taunting, according to KMBC-TV.
‘What was supposed to be fun and joyous and celebratory and inclusive, turned out to be ugly,’ said the mother, who identified herself as Missy.
She said that her daughter had been anticipating the event for days, even decorating the house with LGBT rainbow flags in anticipation, WDAF-TV reported.
Though most of the parade was without incident, things turned ugly when a small group of students began to heckle.
A group of homophobic high school students chanted ‘Make America straight again’ and threw candy and dirt at LGBT classmates during a homecoming parade in Kansas
Missy (above), a parent of one member of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Olathe Northwest High School in Olathe, Kansas, says that her daughter came home saddened on Thursday and that a number of teens were crying as a result of the taunting
When her daughter came home, she told Missy: ‘Mom, it was awful. They were saying awful, ugly things and calling us names.’
‘They were chanting, “Make America straight again”. She was very sad and deflated, and she said several members of the group were crying,’ Missy said.
‘Batches of people started saying hateful things phrases like: “Kill yourself”, “You’re not welcome here”, “We don’t want you”,’ Missy said, ‘and she called it the F-word.’
The student members of the alliance took part in the parade which passed through neighboring elementary and middle schools.
But as they neared their own high school, that’s when the other students in attendance began shouting slurs.
One student marching with the Gay-Straight Alliance was said to be so shaken by the jeering that she did not go to school the next day.
In an email to parents, a school official said that the incident wasn’t witnessed by teachers or staff
Students said that some of the classmates who made offensive comments were wearing red ‘Make America Great Again’ hats – the same hats originally made famous by President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Thursday was ‘USA Day.’ Each day of the week leading up to homecoming had a separate theme that encourages children to show up wearing proper attire.
Missy said she still cannot believe that such an incident could happen in her hometown.
‘I’m embarrassed because this is where I grew up,’ she said.
‘This isn’t who we are, come on. Where is this coming from? Why? Why do we have to hate each other? I don’t get it.’
‘We didn’t see it, if we’d seen it, we would’ve stopped it immediately,’ Assistant Superintendent Erin Dugan (above) said
After the incident, the school district informed parents that it would investigate the matter.
In an email to parents, a school official said that the incident wasn’t witnessed by teachers or staff.
‘We didn’t see it, if we’d seen it, we would’ve stopped it immediately,’ Assistant Superintendent Erin Dugan said.
‘Kids do a nice job of doing things when the adults aren’t watching. They know our expectations.
‘Kindness and compassion and acceptance, we need to send a strong message to our students that this isn’t acceptable,’ said Dugan.