A school board member in Florida is facing a backlash after posting photos of a field trip she led for an elementary school to what some are describing as "a gay bar."
Sarah Leonardi of the Broward County School Board shared photos to various social media sites Wednesday of Wilton Manors Elementary School children at Rosie’s Bar and Grill, an establishment popular with the local LGBTQ community.
"I was SO honored to be invited to chaperone Wilton Manors’ field trip to the incredible Rosie’s!" Leonardi wrote in the accompanying caption. "The students and I had a fun walk over and learned a lot about our community!"
The comments beneath the photos though portrayed a vocal displeasure from a number of her followers.
“This is just wrong on so many levels – then telling the world that you did it,” read one comment.
“Not one parent or adult there had a thought that a backdrop of bottles of alcohol for the field trip presentation is inappropriate,” read another.
The field trip was meant to teach students about the restaurant business.
“It’s a really nice event,” Rosie’s co-owner John Zieba told WSVN, saying the kids get to order from a child-friendly menu and learn about paying the bill and tipping the server.
“It’s really such a cool experience to see the kids’ faces light up, and how excited they are when their food comes, or when they get the bill,” said Zieba. “You can just see that they’re just enjoying themselves.
They talk about what they’re eating and how to order and how they want their food — if they want something on the side, so it’s a great experience for them.”
Zieba also says his establishment is more restaurant than bar and would welcome more visits by schools.
“It’s bright and fun and just meant to put people in a good mood,” he said. “It’s just a cheery place to be.”
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