Florida Father Sues After Teacher Allegedly Hung ‘Gay Pride’ Flags, ‘Proselytized’ to Students – The Epoch Times
A Florida father has sued his son’s middle school and school district for allegedly advocating for homosexuality as an alternative way of life, which he argues violates a new state law that bans classroom discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Francisco “Frank” Deliu filed a lawsuit on Oct. 12 after his 7th-grade son told him that his computer science teacher hung LGBT flags in their classroom and used a search engine to find websites about homosexual lifestyles and “proselytized to the students,” according to court filings obtained by WPTV.
“The main reason I filed this case was because I believe the school has violated the law and want to stop them before they go further,” Deliu told Fox News on Thursday, adding that his legal action “has made parents aware and so may just yet turn into a political movement.”
“We have to protect our children from overreach by the unelected bureaucrats,” he added.
The lawsuit states that Deliu, an Orthodox Christian who fled Romania in 1980 to escape “religious and political persecution by the communist Ceausescu regime,” views homosexuality as a sin.
“Dr. Deliu is a libertarian who lives by a ‘live and let live’ creed. He respects the rights of others, but also demands they not encroach upon his rights,” the lawsuit states.
Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, seen as controversial by some, prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade, as well as instruction that isn’t age-appropriate.
It has sparked a wave of action by Florida parents who have urged their school districts not to teach “left-wing” socialist ideology, including gender ideology, but instead focus on English, math, and science.
The Lawsuit
Deliu alleges that an initial complaint he filed with Emerald Cove Middle School’s principal on Sept. 16 was “dismissed,” and the principal “refused to justify her decision” or put it in writing.
The lawsuit states that the school agreed to Deliu’s demand to move his son to another computer class “pending anticipated legal action.”
“The School did not keep its promise and, instead, unilaterally and without notice to Dr. Deliu moved his son into an art class,” the lawsuit states.
Deliu alleges the school board has delayed acting on his complaint for over four weeks, which he claims prejudices his son’s education. The father said his son has missed four weeks “of his elected computer science education to instead be forced into an art class that does not benefit his career and thereby educational aspirations.”
The lawsuit states that on Sept. 23, a school board representative gave Deliu “the misleading impression” that she was investigating his complaint and that three days later, he was advised the matter was referred to the Office of Professional Standards to investigate.
Deliu alleges that the board has refused to communicate with him about his complaints since Sept. 27. He alleges the school board, district, principal, and teacher have “acted contrary to law.”
Father Laments School ‘Spending Time, Money’ on ‘Gay Pride’
During an interview with Fox News, Deliu claimed that he was met by police at the school’s entrance when he went to ask for his son to be removed from the art class after a second teacher allegedly hung an LGBT flag in a different classroom.
The father expressed disappointment that schoolchildren in Asian countries, who he said remain focused on math and science, are scoring higher than their American counterparts.
“Meanwhile, our schools are spending time, money, and resources on gay pride and homosexuality. This will not end well,” Deliu said.
“Parents are responsible for cultural, moral, political, and social education. Schools are responsible for that which the parents are unable to teach due to lack of skills or abilities, i.e., physics or calculus. We need to ensure those lines are not crossed, and I hope my case helps set this clear precedent.”
Deliu, who noted he previously represented a gay refugee as a lawyer, said he’s not “anti-homosexuality” but conceded that some “extremists” might portray him that way. He said that the issue for him is “instead about the separation between parent and state.”
In a statement obtained by WPTV, the School District of Palm Beach County said, “The School District does not typically comment on pending litigation, however, we look forward to the facts in this case unfolding during the process.”
The Epoch Times contacted the School District of Palm Beach County for further comment.
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Caden Pearson is a reporter based in Australia. Contact him on caden.pearson@epochtimes.com.au