LGBT issues come up in FWISD board election

With the election coming up in less than five days, LGBT issues have become a hot topic in the race for the District 2 seat on the Fort Worth Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Supporters of District 2 incumbent Tobi Jackson, the current board president, are pointing to an apparent endorsement for District 2 challenger Chad McCarty by an organization called Stand for Fort Worth as evidence that Jackson is being attacked for her support of LGBT students. But McCarty, in a statement posted Sunday afternoon, April 28, to his campaign’s Facebook page, denied any knowledge of Stand for Fort Worth an appeared to repudiate the endorsement.

A screenshot provided to Dallas Voice shows the Stand for Fort Worth post backing McCarty, dated April 23. It reads:

“STAND FOR FORT WORTH RECOMMENDS CHAD MCCARTY FOR FORT WORTH ISD DISTRICT
“Chad McCarty for FWISD Place 2 answered the Vote Under God church voter guide questionnaire indicating, among other things, that he believes humans are biologically and immutably designed as God created them, male or female, and marriage is a lifetime covenant between one man and one woman. Mr. McCarty is running against the incumbent, Tobi Jackson. Ms. Jackson supported Superintendent Scribner when he imposed his illegal transgender policy.”

Scribern’s “illegal transgender policy” refers to a policy the board — then later revised — in 2016 on use of school restrooms by transgender students and when and why school officials would notify parents regarding trans students’ gender presentation at school. The board’s vote to pass the ordinance brought Texas’ anti-LGBT lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, to Forth Worth where he launched his campaign to restrict public bathroom access to transgender people.

Mike Phipps, a gay man who lives with his partner in FWISD’s District 2, provided the screenshot of the Stand for Fort Worth endorsement to Dallas Voice. He said that while he and his partner have no children of their own and he is not a member of Jackson’s campaign staff, he does support her bid for re-election.

“As a school board member it is your responsibility to represent ALL the children in your district, not just the ones that fit into your religious or social beliefs,” Phipps said. “If you cannot do this, you should not be running.

“They are slamming [Jackson] for trying to be inclusive of all, yet in the same breath they are discriminating [against] the whole gay community. Personal religious beliefs have no place in politics, local, state or federal. Unfortunately, too many times this is not the case.”

In an email statement to Dallas Voice, Jackson said:

“All kids are welcome and loved in the FWISD, and we are going to do our best to teach them.”

In an April 28 post to his campaign’s Facebook page, McCarty wrote, in part:

“Last night, while most of us were sleeping, several of my opponent’s campaign team took to Facebook to tear down my character and attack my integrity over endorsements from groups that I am still unfamiliar with. I’m new to this political thing, and can’t possibly know the inner workings of FWISD politics. My background is a dad and an educator. When I was an administrator with the district I stayed away from the politics because my focus was on how to educate kids, ALL kids.
“Over my years as an educator I have come to know many students from many walks of life. As an educator it is your responsibility to educate the whole child so they have the supports in place to learn and grow. I have always been there to support our LGBT families, students and staff. Any group who exists to harm them, or any other marginalized community, is a group that I do not want support from.
“I am proud to have the support from several leaders and former students from the LGBT community. As the next trustee for District 2, I will work closely with them to ensure that the district’s policies for inclusion and protection will remain among the strongest in the country, and I will actively support the District’s Non-Discrimination Policy.”

Dallas Voice sent a message to McCarty on Facebook, asking for clarification that he does repudiate the Stand for Fort Worth endorsement and that he does support equality and protections for LGBT students. As of 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 30, McCarty had not responded.

 — Tammye Nash