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Demanding a safe space for LGBTQ students in Grain Valley

A Kansas City-area school board is facing backlash after directing staff to remove signs indicating that a classroom is a welcoming space for LGBTQ students.

The Grain Valley School Board recently demanded that teachers remove all signage from classrooms that indicate a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ students. The decision has prompted protests and criticism from students, parents and community members.

"At our school particularly, there are a lot of kids that are closeted, or that don't have anyone to talk to," says Grain Valley parent Tara Powell. "They don't have the support system at home. And so these stickers show a sign that they have someone they can talk to, there's somebody that is just gonna be there and listen to them and give them a space place to be themselves."

On KCUR's Up To Date, Steve Kraske spoke with Powell, as well as activist and former Grain Valley student Justice Horn, about their reactions to the school board's decision and how they want the district to make things right.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR onTwitter andFacebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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As a newscaster and a host of a daily news podcast, I want to deliver the most important and interesting news of the day in an engaging and easily understandable way. No matter where you live in the metro or what you’re interested in, I want you to learn something from each newscast or podcast – and maybe even give you something to talk about at the dinner table.
As an on-demand producer, I am focused on using my skills and experiences across multiple digital applications, platforms and media fields to create community focused audio, video and on-demand products for KCUR Studios. The media that I produce aims to inform, entertain and connect with the Kansas City metro area as we continue to learn from each other. Email me at byronlove@kcur.org.
Trevor Grandin is a contributing producer for KCUR Studios.
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