This petition is for Roanoke County, VA residents.

The petition will be read at the Roanoke County School Board Meeting on June 15th, 2023. Names of individual signers will not be shared, but rather the number of signatures. Currently, there are over 13,000 students in Roanoke County Schools. Let's get enough signatures to let the school board and administration know that most of our school community does not agree with this attack on our LGBTQ+ community. 

If you are unaware of what is occurring in the county, please see the articles in the Roanoke Times here and here

Dear Roanoke County School Board and Roanoke County Administrative Leadership,

We write to you as concerned parents and community members regarding the targeting of Glen Cove Elementary School staff. We must unite as a community to support our students, staff, and schools to create a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for all.

We ask that county leadership:

1. Support our students and staff in the LGBTQ+ community by not allowing hate to grow: It is vital to foster understanding, respect, and acceptance for all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We must unite to create an inclusive and accepting environment that promotes equity, free from discrimination and hate.

2. Protect staff from unwarranted attacks on their character: The false allegations of staff members being sexual predators are baseless and damaging to their professional and personal lives. No individual should have a target put on their back due to unfounded claims, and county leadership must take responsibility to protect our educators from harassment and harm.

3. Create equitable policies for educators’ personal expression that does not single out LGBTQ+ educators: For instance, educators that identify as Christians are allowed to wear crosses and shirts that identify their religious preferences. These personal expressions may make students of other religions uncomfortable, yet they are allowed to persist. Why is one community being targeted over another? We must respect diversity and the rights of ALL individuals to express their beliefs safely and respectfully.

As parents and community members, we believe that all students and staff can thrive in a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Together, let us work towards creating a respectful and inclusive educational environment where all students and staff can thrive.