An Iowa school district chose to start the school year without the new band teacher instead of allowing a trans educator to take on the role he was offered, following protests from parents.
2026 cultivated bigotry, and discrimination on full display. Exactly what generations have worked to change. Yes, we need change.
Equality doesn’t mean we are all the same, it means we all get treated the same. We all get to play on the same fields, cook in the same kitchens, and sit in the same dining rooms.
Sue, sue, sue. Under state law since federal is useless. This is blatant discrimination and he might win. Its important that we fight back against this crap. It could be worth it and if he starts a go fund me for legal, I will donate what I can. Absolute crock. If anyone knows if he dis, let us know. -- Jessica
Great I am sure the kids will do better with theur schiol budget going in a lawsuit va a oerfectly competent band teacher. Great work school board. Really repping for the kids there.
I wish the parents had explained to us how they concluded that a trans teacher would have taught music differently. I can't help feeling that the open bigotry we are seeing is the direct result of who was put in the White House. His evil seems to pervade everywhere and to poison everything and everyone it touches. I truly wish I was confident that 2028 would be the last of him we will see. I fear that it is going to take many years to finally erase the stain that he (and his sycophants) have smeared on our once great country.
By rejecting a fully qualified trans band teacher days before the school year began, Fremont-Mills Community School District chose prejudice over the education of its own students. Ace Rios met every professional standard, earned stellar recommendations, and had already set up his classroom when board members Eli Forney, Wes Hill, and Shannon Smith caved to anti-trans outrage. Leaving over 400 middle and high schoolers without music instruction just to appease public bigotry is an embarrassing failure of administrative responsibility. In bowing to hate, the district abandoned integrity, exposed taxpayers to serious federal legal liability, and proved that local prejudice ranks higher than quality education.
"Many parents also expressed outrage at the outcome of this vote."
I hope they vote the three idiots off their school board and make sure they keep them from rising in state politics.
“Obviously, the issue is with you guys hiring a transgender [sic].”
“I am opposed to my grandchildren being subjected to that lifestyle”
I hope the sources of these quotes are named in a single local publication to allow for convenient exclusion from local social events involving children. I believe they shouldn't be exposed to radical Christianist "values" any more than to Islamic extremism.
I personally would like to see a local registry of radical Christianists available online so people knew whose children weren't safe to play with because their Christianist parents might be indoctrinating them with weird stuff about other people's genitalia.
Like, do radical Christianists think trans people TALK about stuff like that with little KIDS?! Do THEY talk about it with little kids? What's WRONG with these people?
The fear and vitriol is because the regular day to day association between eager and passionate music students matched with and equally eager and passionate music teacher - making beautiful music - performing together- sharing joy together- will illuminate the sick transphobia of all the parents and grandparents who are steeped in these hateful beliefs AND who are doing everything they can to transmit their hate to their children
This is heartbreaking 💔
I spell that "h" word as infuriating.
"Now, Rios told a reporter, he is consulting legal counsel to sue the district for discrimination." <-- More power to him.
I hope to hear of effective pushback from parents who aren't child abusing bigots.
"Many parents also expressed outrage at the outcome of this vote.", and the situation needs far more of it! Change the membership of the board!
Thank you Baum.
*him
If there is a Go fund me for Ace please share it! This is completely outrageous!
Exactly! Some help to tide him over with the sudden loss of a promised income.
Indeed!
2026 cultivated bigotry, and discrimination on full display. Exactly what generations have worked to change. Yes, we need change.
Equality doesn’t mean we are all the same, it means we all get treated the same. We all get to play on the same fields, cook in the same kitchens, and sit in the same dining rooms.
Yes we need change.
So the kids get screwed over due to bigotry and bullshit. I hope some lucky school hires Ace.
Sue, sue, sue. Under state law since federal is useless. This is blatant discrimination and he might win. Its important that we fight back against this crap. It could be worth it and if he starts a go fund me for legal, I will donate what I can. Absolute crock. If anyone knows if he dis, let us know. -- Jessica
Great I am sure the kids will do better with theur schiol budget going in a lawsuit va a oerfectly competent band teacher. Great work school board. Really repping for the kids there.
I wish the parents had explained to us how they concluded that a trans teacher would have taught music differently. I can't help feeling that the open bigotry we are seeing is the direct result of who was put in the White House. His evil seems to pervade everywhere and to poison everything and everyone it touches. I truly wish I was confident that 2028 would be the last of him we will see. I fear that it is going to take many years to finally erase the stain that he (and his sycophants) have smeared on our once great country.
“Rios, a recent graduate of the music education program at the University of Nebraska, sat there in the room, listening to all of it.”
Talk about bravery.
Yes, I can't imagine 😢
That's horrific.
Get a lawyer even if there's not much hope
I left the district a 1 star review:
By rejecting a fully qualified trans band teacher days before the school year began, Fremont-Mills Community School District chose prejudice over the education of its own students. Ace Rios met every professional standard, earned stellar recommendations, and had already set up his classroom when board members Eli Forney, Wes Hill, and Shannon Smith caved to anti-trans outrage. Leaving over 400 middle and high schoolers without music instruction just to appease public bigotry is an embarrassing failure of administrative responsibility. In bowing to hate, the district abandoned integrity, exposed taxpayers to serious federal legal liability, and proved that local prejudice ranks higher than quality education.
https://share.google/Gqb73h848zssagaqP
:-( Sad loss for band teacher; loss for students; lack of facts and knowledge; people either ignorant or listening to the fabricated fake news.
Oh, god’s love is just so… horrible.
"Many parents also expressed outrage at the outcome of this vote."
I hope they vote the three idiots off their school board and make sure they keep them from rising in state politics.
“Obviously, the issue is with you guys hiring a transgender [sic].”
“I am opposed to my grandchildren being subjected to that lifestyle”
I hope the sources of these quotes are named in a single local publication to allow for convenient exclusion from local social events involving children. I believe they shouldn't be exposed to radical Christianist "values" any more than to Islamic extremism.
I personally would like to see a local registry of radical Christianists available online so people knew whose children weren't safe to play with because their Christianist parents might be indoctrinating them with weird stuff about other people's genitalia.
Like, do radical Christianists think trans people TALK about stuff like that with little KIDS?! Do THEY talk about it with little kids? What's WRONG with these people?
The fear and vitriol is because the regular day to day association between eager and passionate music students matched with and equally eager and passionate music teacher - making beautiful music - performing together- sharing joy together- will illuminate the sick transphobia of all the parents and grandparents who are steeped in these hateful beliefs AND who are doing everything they can to transmit their hate to their children
Can we donate to help with legal costs to fight this discriminatory wrongful termination?
So much for worker protections for trans people in the US. Anyone is going to be able to cause a stink and get any trans person fired.