A group of students at a school in Iowa have staged a walkout after one of their teachers was put on leave after coming out as bisexual.
As reported by WKRC, Lucas Kaufmann - a seventh-grade literacy teacher at a junior-high school in Winterset - was placed on administrative leave after coming out to his class. During a 'Things That Describe Me' introductory presentation, Kaufmann had included an image of a Pride flag and told the class he was bisexual.
Officials from the school have not revealed the specifics of what resulted in Kaufmann's suspension, but students believe it to be down to the teacher sharing his sexual orientation.
WKRC reporters were present on Tuesday, as students - many of who held Pride flags or wore shirts supporting the LGBTQ+ community - spoke out about the suspension.
More on this story below:Student David Courtney II asked: "If they want us to be who we are and be proud of it, then they shouldn't be doing stuff like this to the teacher. How am I supposed to feel comfortable if stuff like this happens?"
"They're like, 'this is a safe place for all, this is a safe place for all,' but as soon as a teacher comes out, they want to put him on administrative leave," said fellow student Lily Smith.
However, Bonnie Haugen - a mother of one of the school's students - told KCCI: "If, in fact, it is determined that an educator was discussing their sexual orientation with their students, this group of concerned parents we feel like that is inappropriate and we would not like our students subjected to that."
In response to the suspension, tenth-grade student Kiona Newbrough also set up a Change.org petition to demand "justice" for the teacher.
The petition description reads in part: "He admitted to his students after being asked, that he was bisexual.
"He wanted to make sure that the LGBTQ+ students at the school know that he was a safe person to talk to and an ally for them. It is absolutely unjust and downright disgusting that government officials have now made this whole situation political."
It adds: "The only thing he is guilty of is trying to show his students they could have a safe person to talk to about themselves and their sexual orientation, without any form of judgment."
As of this writing, the petition has amassed over 2,900 signatures.
Per Pink News, executive director of the LGBTQ+ group One Iowa Courtney Reyes has also spoken out about the situation.
"We really hope this person is getting the support that they need and the community can get the support they need because that sends a really harmful message to the LGBTQ students in the district that they are not valid," she said.
