Virginia Beach schools recognize LGBTQIA Month [Video]

After moving the resolution from the consent agenda to action items – separating it from resolutions honoring special months for bullying prevention, disability history and awareness, dyslexia awareness, and Filipino American history as well as Indigenous People’s Day – the board voted 5-4 to approve the recognition.

Only one board member – David Culpepper – spoke about the recognition before the vote, saying he wouldn’t support it.

“LGBTQ issues are intensely controversial and not appropriate for this environment for lots of reasons, and therefore I can’t support it,” he said.

Local resident Melissa Lukeson spoke in support of the resolution during the public comments period.

“You’re intentionally discriminating against students that you are supposed to represent,” she said.

Voting for the resolution were Beverly Anderson, Jennifer Franklin, Kimberly Melnyk, Jessica Owens, and Trenace Riggs.

Those who voted against …