February 28, 2023
Come for the bouncy castles, stay for the indoctrination.
Wappingers Central School District parents who brought their children to the John Jay High School student government’s Winter Carnival on Saturday February 25th were promised games, a petting zoo and food. In addition to what was advertised, carnival goers including toddlers and early elementary school students got “progressive pride flags” distributed by the Gender Sexuality Alliance. The Gender Sexuality Alliance also hosted an activity for kids dubbed “Locker Room Bowling.”
One WCSD mother who brought her toddler and elementary school children to the event said, “It felt a little like ‘bait and switch.’ They advertised a traditional kids carnival however immediately upon entry we are hit with the progressive pride booth - my initial thought was, are they grooming our kids in front of our faces?”
“The flyer that was sent home with my children was decorated with circus clowns, petting zoo animals and carnival games. Therefore, I think one thing we can easily agree on is this event had one targeted demographic - young kids. That being said, it was very unsettling and concerning to see an entire booth promoting the progressive pride flag, which the overwhelming majority of those in attendance could not even begin to understand nor should they at such a young age,” added the mother of three.
“Locker Room Bowling” involved children going into the locker room to roll a tennis ball at bottles filled with what appeared to be colored water. The location of the activity is curious because WCSD has gotten complaints about biological male students changing in the girl’s locker room. The bowling area was labeled “Allies Alley.” “Allies” are advocates and activists for LGBTQ+ causes.
According to the Gender Sexuality Alliance Network, GSAs are "vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice." The progressive pride flag has been a source of controversy nationwide. Proponents acknowledge that the progressive pride flag stands for political positions including young children undergoing surgical procedures as part of “gender-affirming care” and allowing biological males to compete against women in sports.
Despite the contention that Gender Sexuality Alliance and the progressive pride flag stand for tolerance, the ideology they represent is often aggressively intolerant of and hostile to those who hold traditional views on sexuality and marriage.
Educators discussing sexual orientation and gender identity with young students has also been a source of contention in New York and elsewhere. Florida passed a law in 2022 that states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
WCSD Superintendent Dr. Dwight Bonk referred parents who complained about the intrusion of LGBTQ+ activism into a WCSD sponsored children’s event to John Jay High School’s principal David Kedzielawa.
Dr. Dwight Bonk
Superintendent of Wappingers Central School District
(845) 298-5000 x 40145
Mr. David Kedzielawa
Principal John Jay High School
david.kedzielawa@wcsdny.org
(845) 897-6700 x30002
Related Article: Critical Race Theory Coverup In Wappingers Central School District
The high school’s GSA is a club, like many others, to offer a place for like-minded students to meet up and give much needed support in this increasingly intolerant society. Like the club “Praying Patriots” - I’m assuming the author of this ignorant article has no problem with that club? Are they trying to indoctrinate anyone to choose their religion? No, just like the GSA is not trying to, either.
Wow…”grooming kids.” Grooming to be what? Gay? That’s not how being gay works. Hence the millions of straight parents who still have a child who is gay, despite if they raise them super conservative. This article oozes ignorance and is clearly stretching to try to make something into their own agenda. There wasn’t just one booth. And people aren’t “groomed” or forced to take a free flag. It’s America where you’re allowed to say “no thanks” and walk away if you don’t agree. Just as they, among other booths are allowed free speech and expression. They are high school clubs who volunteer to help out and set up a booth about their club. Don’t make it something it’s not. It…
I’m glad I’ve never heard of this publication before and other than this will make sure I never open another article. This is the absolute worst ”reporting” I have seen in a while. I hope you plan to publish another article interviewing parents that aren’t bothered by the flags or from the students and families in the group and what their intentions actually were. I’m pretty sure at no point did they decided to hand out colorful rainbow flags in order to market ”themselves” to toddlers. You aren’t indoctrined into being LGTBQ, you just are. As a parent of little ones in the district my toddler would think it was a fun rainbow flag and if I wasn’t sure how…
Is Mr. David Kedzielawa gay? Yes it does matter. Because he has a agenda that many parents may not agree with.