Lancaster, N.Y. (WBEN) - An X post viewed over 1.2 million times of a Lancaster Central Schools parent addressing the Board of Education over her concerns of a health quiz asking her child to identify gender has sparked some outrage and controversy amongst the community.
Adrienne Gummo, a parent and educator was troubled to hear that her daughter was corrected for how she defined gender on a quiz assignment. She wrote that "gender is what you are when you’re born, male or female" and her teacher told her she was wrong and was told to change her answer to "what you identify as."
"I emailed the teacher and politely asked if she be excused from any further topics like this, this does not follow human biology or our family's beliefs. And since I was not understood or heard at all by the teacher, that's why I had to go ahead to admin, to which I was not responded to, and then [I went] to the board," Gummo told WBEN.
Gummo says since she has spoken out, she has received very little negative backlash from the community, many parents and community members have spoken to her to thank her for speaking out.
"I've had teachers, educators, parents, taxpayers, just thanking me for my message. And many of them have said, 'Thank you so much, because you have said the things that I've wanted to say, and I'm too afraid to go up there and say it.' I've had a couple people say, 'You've now given me the courage to go to the board, and now that's going to prompt me to go and say the things that I've been too scared to say.'"
Despite all of this attention, there has been no response to date from the school district.
Aside from Gummo wanting any type of response from the district, she feels that the school should have an open conversation with parents about giving the opt-in or opt-out choices for children to be taught specific sexuality and gender identity topics.
"There are ways to address both sides of the spectrum here, there's ways to make all families feel that their child is receiving the education that their family believes they should be. I'd really love to have those positive conversations. This doesn't have to be an adversarial thing with the school, if they would just respond and realize that we are willing to give a little, we can work together to figure it out," said Gummo.
WBEN has reached out to the Superintendent's office of Lancaster Central School and received the following statement:
"As a public school in New York State, the Lancaster Central School District is obliged to teach curriculum aligned with state standards and corresponding guidance. We recognize the growing complexities of the teaching profession and unwaveringly support our teachers as they strive to help students feel safe, valued and connected in their educational journey."