The trans staff at the center of the controversy surrounding the United States Space and Rocket Center is being threatened with violence because of her place at the sleep-away station.
After receiving online threats of death, the staff claims to be afraid to leave her house.
“This concern is echoed by the overall local trans area due to this incident,” the team’s spokesperson said.
All of this came from a social media post that gained a lot of attention over the weekend.
A transgender girl was allegedly monitoring the women’s dormitories at the Space Camp, according to a nearby family.
The post posted what they claimed were pictures from her social media accounts that weren’t related to Space Camp, but provided no proof of wrongdoing by the individual.
According to ALTRAC, the coverage of this story has perpetuated stereotypes about gay people as risky.
The spokesperson continued, “We are not inherently dangerous and the prejudiced idea that we are should not be upheld under any circumstances,” adding that “we would be quick to request an investigation,” but that isn’t what happened here.
By defending gay and transgender workers, the trans advocacy group “Make Space for Everyone” launched a petition.
At this time it has over 2,600 petitions.
However, despite their efforts to raise awareness of the issue, other parties still back the parents’ concerns that are at the core of this.
Alabama State Representative Mack Butler believes that learning to read and write is done in classrooms, never to advance specific agendas.
Butler claims that he is concerned about the safety of children, which is why he intends to bring his “Don’t Say Gay” bill to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
Butler says he intends to update HB130, the bill that would end all discussions of gender identity and sexual preference, and expand these bans to Space Camp.
This dialogue is prohibited by state law right now through second grade.
This will continue into the 12th grade under Butler’s bill, which will apply to all Space Camp programs and activities.
“We are taught to love one another, and we undoubtedly want everyone to work,” Butler said. However, we must choose carefully when hiring staff to oversee and instruct our kids.
Congressman Dale Strong and Senator Tommy Tuberville are just two of the politicians who have voiced their concerns about the issue.
Butler claims that no harm and no foul is caused if there isn’t such teaching or discussion at Space Camp.
According to Butler, “We just want the absolute best for our kids and for them to have a healthy learning environment.”
ALTRAC says they are strongly against HB130 in any shape.
“It contributes to the isolation of queer youth at a vulnerable time in their lives, and it sets an example for all children that some people’s identities and orientations — basic elements of one’s society — are inappropriate topics of discussion,” ALTRAC continued, “Views like this only serve to teach kids prejudice, which hampers the development of a polite society,” ALTRAC said.
The group claims that changing HB130 to include Space Camp would be a waste of time because neither gender nor gender identity are taught at the station.
According to ALTRAC, “Space Camp teaches students about space science and technology also established.”
According to ALTRAC, the state of Florida recently settled a lawsuit over “Don’t Say Gay,” which makes the law void in all but a few impromptu circumstances.
They suggest Representative Butler look into limiting the scope of his bill so it fits the terms of the agreements made by Florida and their agreement.
This article was not open to reply from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
