The Pride flag is a symbol of acceptance, support, and safety for the LGBTQIA+ community. As a Proud Berwick mom, I want all children to be embraced by their public schools, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. ALL children deserve safe and inclusive spaces for them to learn and grow.  Displaying the Pride flag is a step towards that inclusivity and shows our children that they are accepted, supported, and safe.  However, it appears that the right to display this flag in the Berwick School District is under threat. 

Our school board is in the process of approving anti-LGBTQIA+ policies, including one which would limit flags that can be displayed in our classrooms and effectively bans the Pride flag.  We have been begging them to reconsider due to the message it sends to our children, teachers, and community.  We have explained that the policy will violate the First Amendment rights of our students and teachers.  We have discussed the increase in the bullying of LGBTQIA+ students that has occurred in districts where Pride flags have been removed. We have pointed out that flying the Pride flag in a classroom is literally suicide prevention.  But our pleas are falling on deaf ears. 

It is our responsibility to protect our students and foster an environment where they can learn without fear. Therefore, we call on the Berwick School District to preserve the right to display the Pride flag and embrace the values this flag stands for and the children that find acceptance and safety in its rainbow colors. Please sign our petition so we can send a loud message to our school board that they are on the wrong side of history and we will not sit by and allow them to take this symbol away or pass any other anti-LGBTQIA+ policies. But more importantly, please sign to show our children that they are important and loved and accepted.  Show them that we will fight for them to be free to be their true authentic selves.   Help us save Pride in Berwick.