Administrators at a Wisconsin elementary school stopped a first-grade class from performing a Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton duet promoting LGBTQ acceptance because the song B次元官网网址渃ould be perceived as controversial.B次元官网网址�

Students at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha had prepared a rendition of B次元官网网址淩ainbowlandB次元官网网址� for their spring concert, but school officials struck the song from the lineup last week. Parents in the district say the decision was made because the song encourages LGBTQ acceptance and references rainbows.

Superintendent James Sebert, who did not immediately return a call on Monday, confirmed to that administrators had removed B次元官网网址淩ainbowlandB次元官网网址� from the first-grade concert because it might not be B次元官网网址渁ppropriate for the age and maturity level of the students.B次元官网网址� He also cited a school board policy against raising controversial issues in classrooms.

Sebert has previously prohibited rainbows and pride flags from being displayed in Waukesha classrooms and suspended the school districtB次元官网网址檚 equity and diversity work in 2021.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside,B次元官网网址� the song from CyrusB次元官网网址� 2017 album B次元官网网址淵ounger NowB次元官网网址� goes. B次元官网网址淟iving in a Rainbowland, where you and I go hand in hand. Oh, IB次元官网网址檇 be lying if I said this was fine, all the hurt and the hate going on here.B次元官网网址�

First-grade teacher Melissa Tempel said she chose the song because its message seemed universal and sweet. The class concertB次元官网网址檚 theme was B次元官网网址淭he WorldB次元官网网址� and included other songs such as B次元官网网址淗ere Comes the Sun,B次元官网网址� by The Beatles and B次元官网网址淲hat a Wonderful World,B次元官网网址� by Louis Armstrong.

B次元官网网址淢y students were just devastated. They really liked this song and we had already begun singing it,B次元官网网址� Tempel said Monday.

Administrators also initially banned the song B次元官网网址淩ainbow ConnectionB次元官网网址� from The Muppets but later reversed that decision, according to Tempel.

Parents have been angered by the songB次元官网网址檚 removal, Tempel said. But she was more concerned about what the ban and other district policies against expressing LGBTQ support meant for students.

B次元官网网址淭hese confusing messages about rainbows are ultimately creating a culture that seems unsafe towards queer people,B次元官网网址� she said.

Spokespersons for Parton and Cyrus did not immediately respond to emails on Monday asking the artistsB次元官网网址� thoughts on the ban.

Wisconsin school boards races, including in Waukesha, have become increasingly partisan in recent years. Republicans across the stateB次元官网网址檚 school board races in 2022 and have used the positions to challenge policies from to COVID-19 restrictions.

B次元官网网址擧arm Venhuizen, The Associated Press

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