Moms For Liberty targets teacher who showed class Disney film

A fifth grade elementary teacher is under fire in Hernando County, Florida after showing her students the 2022 Disney’s film “Strange World.” It’s the first Disney film with an out, gay character.

Rodriguez, who was elected to the school board last fall, and was endorsed by conservative anti-LGBTQ+ parents’ rights group Moms for Liberty, reported fifth-grade teacher Jenna Barbee to the state Department of Education who has opened an investigation.

Rodriguez has a daughter in Barbee’s class.

Common Sense Media in its Parents’ Guide to Strange World gave it a four out of five star rating. Common Sense Media states in its FAQ: “Common Sense is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.”

Barbee, who teaches at Winding Waters K-8, a public school located in Weeki Wachee, during a public comment session during last week’s Board Meeting told the members and the audience:

“The word indoctrination is thrown around a lot right now, but it seems that those who are using it are using it as a defense tactic for their own fear-based beliefs without understanding the true meaning of the word.” ety and confusion over the vague wording of the law for fear of losing their teaching licenses or criminal penalties if found in non-compliance.

Opponents of the law say the vague wording unfairly targets books and classroom materials with gay and transgender characters and themes.

Rodriguez, in her short tenure on the school board, has argued there is “smut” and “porn” on schools’ library shelves and has asked for books to be removed, according to Suncoast News.

Barbee said that every student in her class had a signed parent permission slip that said PG movies were allowed. At the end of the school board meeting, Rodriguez said Barbee broke school policy because she did not get the specific movie approved by school administration and said the teacher is “playing the victim,” the Tallahassee Democrat noted.

In a statement to local media outlets, Moms for Liberty says school boards should ensure parents’ rights are honored in the classroom.

Strange World features the openly gay character named Ethan Clade, who has a crush on another male character and is voiced by gay comic Jaboukie YoungWhite.

Hernando County School Board member Shannon

The Tallahassee Democrat reported Florida educators are prohibited from teaching about gender and sexual identity due to the Parental Rights in Education Act, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. Also known as “Don’t Say Gay” by critics, teachers have expressed anxi-

“It is great that local school board members can question content that is not approved by parents. Parents have a right to be a part of their child’s education and school boards should also ensure parental rights are honored in the classroom.”

BRODY LEVESQUE