Story & Photo by: Kimberly Bosco Of Jersey Shore Online
BARNEGAT – Barnegat Mayor Alfonso Cirulli’s controversial comments at last month’s meeting have seemingly divided the town into those who are for and those who are against new legislation Cirulli classified as “an affront to almighty God.”
It was a long night for Barnegat residents who came out to the Sept. 3 Township Committee meeting. Over one hundred members of the LGBTQ community, their allies, fellow activists, parents, and township residents came out to say their piece about Cirulli and the legislation, S1569, which requires the inclusion of LGBTQ history into the school district’s curriculum. The law will take effect during the 2020-2021 school year.
Photo by Kimberly Bosco
The township meeting room was packed to the brim, residents spilling out of the doorway and standing in groups against the walls, even extending up to the dais. Many toted handmade signs reading “Unify Barnegat,” “Equality is a Human Right,” and “History, Herstory, Our Story” which were shown off during a pre-meeting peaceful protest outside town hall.
The committee agreed to make quick work of township business at the start of the meeting in order to dedicate the rest of the night to those who wished to speak.
During his committee report, Deputy Mayor John Novak made sure to get his thoughts out in a prepared statement before residents took to the mic.
“The Mayor disagrees with the law and has publicly stated his thoughts. I believe that if a law mandates that a curriculum be forced upon children which conflicts with the sexual morals and/or spiritual beliefs of that child’s family then the parents of that child should have the right to opt their child out of that component of public education,” read Novak. “Sexual morals and spiritual beliefs are a parental function not a government function.”
Photo by Kimberly Bosco
Novak likened the issue to historical disagreements over slavery, women’s suffrage, and civil rights. He just barely finished reading his statement before the “boos” and shouts erupted from the LGBTQ supporters, which would continue from both sides all night long.
The issue boiled down to a few major points: whether the school should or should not be teaching LGBTQ history, and whether it was the mayor’s place to espouse personal beliefs from behind the dais.
First up to speak was Briget Nunn, Barnegat resident and licensed mental health clinician.
“Be mindful…what side of history do you want to be on?” Nunn asked of the committee. “What I have a fundamental problem with is that you used your power and privilege, which is a unique situation that not every human being is afforded…to use your belief, not fact, and made people in our community feel as though they have no value,” Nunn added.
Nunn told Jersey Shore Online that she wants to facilitate a sit-down discussion with the mayor and committee over the issue with school officials to tackle the problem civilly, away from the “chaos.”
Photo by Kimberly Bosco
Barnegat resident and member of Barnegat Township School District Patricia Clark Brescia quoted William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice for its parallel themes to the modern day issue.
“If Shakespeare could figure this out 400 years ago, in a time when there was no sympathy or compassion for Jewish people, why on earth are we still behaving this way in 2019?” said Brescia.
Also in support of the LGBTQ curriculum is Carrie Diona, Barnegat resident and former Democrat candidate for the Barnegat Township Committee. Diona criticized Cirulli’s use of his public platform while praising the inclusivity of the new legislation.
“First and foremost your duty is to represent the entire community of Barnegat, not just yourself,” said Diona, who cited The Trevor Project to quantify the rate of suicide in the LGBTQ community. “If this curriculum can save the life of just one Barnegat child, then it’s completely worth it.”
Diona was one of many decked out in rainbow gear, sporting a rainbow colored scarf around her neck. Some wore rainbow shirts, rainbow face paint, or clothing sporting LGBTQ phrases.
Many pro-LGBTQ residents had the opportunity to say their piece about the issue, some angrily, some civilly and some quite emotionally. Their words were followed by claps and cheers from their supporters.
Photo by Kimberly Bosco
Despite the sense of community within this group, the room was completely divided. Both sides of the argument shouted interruptions at each other during the public session. You could hear “Liar!”, “We are entitled to our beliefs!” and boos from the audience at any point during the evening.
While a majority of the attendees at the meeting were opposed to Mayor Cirulli’s comments, Cirulli still had a sizeable showing of supporters who mainly took up the two front rows of the crowd. These residents clapped for each other as well, shouted down those who interrupted their argument, and raised their hands in prayer during the invocation held at the beginning of each meeting.
Barnegat resident and meeting regular Robert Martucci delivered a heated speech about the mayor’s Constitutional rights.
“You have the same privilege as an elected official to the First Amendment of the Constitution as the people on this side of the dais,” said Martucci. “You absolutely can espouse your beliefs…people that stand there and say ‘oh my gosh’ separation of church and state’ don’t have a clue what their talking about.”
Martucci cited a letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 which defines the separation of church and state.
Representatives of the Jewish faith from Lakewood were also present, denouncing the LGBTQ community as a whole.
“By promoting sin around people and children you are hurting others and causing America to get on bad terms with God,” one stated.
Several members of the Christian and Jewish faith echoed these sentiments, claiming that the law equates to the indoctrination of children.
After nearly two hours of public session, Barnegat resident and mother Connie Jeremias drew attention not only to the issue at hand, but also to what has become of it.
Over one hundred members of the LGBTQ community, their allies, fellow activists, parents, and township residents came out to say their piece about Cirulli and the legislation, S1569, which requires the inclusion of LGBTQ history into the curriculum. (Photo by Kimberly Bosco)
“You created a circus,” she told Cirulli.
Jeremias claimed that Cirulli’s comments during the August meeting, which made national news, portrayed Barnegat Township as “a bigot town” to the rest of America.
Charles Cunliffe, new Barnegat resident, spoke civilly about where the line should be drawn for personal expression by public officials. Cunliffe defined himself as a former teacher, engineer, former elected official (a committeeman and mayor in Lakewood), and a Roman Catholic.
Separation of church and state means “the government must take great care at all times to be absolutely neutral when it comes to religion,” said Cunliffe. “You have to be neutral and your personal opinion has no place on the dais.”
Novak’s personal opinion, which he stated earlier in the evening, was that parents should be given the ability to “opt out” of the LGBTQ curriculum for their kids. This was spoken of as a third option, outside of simply implementing or not implementing the curriculum.
However, Cunliffe believes this to be a slippery slope, giving an “extreme example” of what opting out could look like.
Photo by Kimberly Bosco
“What if a family truly, truly believes in white supremacy? Do they have the right to opt out of learning about slavery? Do they have the right to opt out of black history month? No,” he explained. “You have to be careful when you float the idea of opting out, that is a really bad, slippery slope.”
The meeting dragged on into the evening, the line for speakers standing strong down the center aisle.
Cirulli listened to each resident’s thoughts and concerns, interrupting here and there with short rebuttals. Prior to the start of the long public session, he made sure to reiterate his stance on the issue, from which he will not be swayed.
“When I made my statements, which I stand by…there was no hate or bigotry intended,” said Cirulli. “Everyone has the right to live their life the way they want, but no group has a right to force others to comply with their beliefs.”
Shouldn’t this be an elective?
History an elective?
Jeffrey Ashmen when was the last time they discussed George Washington’s sexual orientation during history class?
I don’t give a shit what anyone does but if Woodrow Wilson was gay that doesn’t need to be a part of the lesson.
John Henderson like you have a say in what is taught in school anyway
John Henderson and you are who to say?!
Scott A Barnes I’ll say what my little kids can and can’t learn when it comes to sex/sexual orientation etc.
John Henderson so you’ll be “that parent” forcing your ideals or thinking you have a say in what is taught in school? Like you can pull them out of those lessons
John Henderson I get you want the best for your kids, in I guess your own way… but two things. It is a part of world and American history meaning it WILL be taught. And two, it is a state mandate, it is done and mayor mcfakepious has no say
They should not be introducing alternate sexual orientations to kids who haven’t even hit puberty and even then those kids got enough on their minds trying to figure themselves out. This can and am sure it already is a college elective.
John Henderson and what of those kids that you speak for? That has gay or lesbian parents? I’m sure barnegat has some
Scott A Barnes well the parents I’m sure explained it to them. It’s their job not the school (government ‘s) job. Less government the better.
Scott, I’d really appreciate if you’d stop speaking on behalf of The Gays :-).
Tom Kovalev ok shitbird. Your bigotry is showing. As if you speak for anyone
John Henderson nothing to do with the government mandating this but a joke of a government official trying dreaming he can force a district to go against the NJEA lessons. Hell he can even be barred from a school board meeting
There’s no reason a school should be teaching children about homosexuality.
John Henderson and you are who to say? Good thing a parent has no say in lessons and curriculum. Sorry. It is a protected orientation and protected lifestyle. What harm could it cause? Kids might get “the gay”? Please
Keep sexuality out of the school.
Oh yeah, I’m the taxpayer that shells out money so I can choose if my kid learns about that in school. That’s my “choice” you libs are all about personal choice unless it goes against your idea of what’s right. Then I should get no choice. Shove it.
John Henderson keep politics and fake force fed morals out of school. Oh shit, I forgot, it is already banned from schools
John Henderson who said I was a lib, and what is a lib anyway. Maybe if you used the whole word, you wouldn’t seem foolish. And assuming to know what a person is politically means you do not know. None of us since taxes began had a say on how it’s spent. And since you dream of judging others by a private political choice. You’re not worth anyone’s time
Shut up then.
Why should it be taught at all ? Who cares if people that invented /developed things or were politicians were gay ? That should have no bearing on their accomplishments.I’m pretty sure being gay had nothing to do with it. Personally ,I wouldn’t have cared if Henry Ford or Thomas Edison were gay,it has no bearing on their accomplishments.How about just teaching actual information .
Cathy Wilson because it shows that gay people contributed meaningful things to society. Much like teaching women’s history, black history, Hispanic history, etc.
In reality it helps alleviate bias. It helps people recognize that all different types of people bring something to the table, and no one should be discounted based on our preconceived opinions.
Wendy NiHuiginn Orr….we can stop putting people in categories such as gay, black, hispanic etc. and move away from race and sexual preference. We draw attention to it to the point people question why these people are different. They are not….they are just people….noone in any of those categories accomplished anything because they are gay or black or hispanic….that is like saying “He/She was such a great doctor, he/She had all ten toes.” ….well….his/her toes did nothing to contribute to his/her success.
Cathy Wilson it is a part of world and us history. It’s happening and no parent or mayor can stop it. Not pull their kid out of the class to risk being “that parent”
Wendy NiHuiginn finally an informed post
Cathy Wilson how bout becoming a teacher and learning something in the process
Cesare Passarelli Jr. If you think we’ve reached that level of understanding in our society, as hate crimes have been steadily rising, you’ve missed the point.
Wendy NiHuiginn and HE has no clue.
Since when has sexual preference been a major factor in major accomplishments? Why do we have “the first gay” anything? Who cares? It means nothing….your gay self is no more important than my straight self. Being gay doesnt make you any better than anyone….try being something and doing something with your life instead of fighting for something that you didnt earn. You didnt earn being gay. You were born that way. Now stop this bullshit…..grow up. 90% of these people reading the article are not homophoebic….the other 10 % you wont change. Ever…..so just stop….being gay is not anything to be proud of just like being straight isnt anything to be proud of…..or skin color…..you are born that way….no achievement there people.
Cesare Passarelli Jr. Yes!!!
Cesare Passarelli Jr. really? 100 years ago they said the same thing about women.
Cesare Passarelli Jr. EXACTLY! We all bleed, breathe, eat and shit the same we are the human race and you are no better than me.
Karen Ann Nisivoccia-Campbell 100 years ago is not now…..stop living in the past.
Pattie Guglielmi-Agosto exactly, i dont understand why there is still a push for the constant gay lifestyle acceptance when nobody gives a shit who is gay anymore.
Cesare Passarelli Jr. speak only for you. It is a part of the curriculum. Oh well
Scott A Barnes and it is dumb….
Cesare Passarelli Jr. “opinion”. It will still get taught and parents will assist with teachers and administrators or their kid will not have a good education. All education begins and ends at home
Scott A Barnes …….i wont teach it to my kids….because i teach my kids to accept everyone. My kids do not need to know anything other than treating people equally. THAT ks what should be taught. The problem today is that everyone wants attention for nothing. Being gay, black, white etc doesnt make you special. Everyone is equal.
Cesare Passarelli Jr. it’s to teach lessons about Harvey milk and other LGBTQs that for example were the first gay member in congress and what they faced. It is to teach tolerance, a concept lost on a few in this page
Scott A Barnes no, the concept is not lost. The concept is stupid. If we treat EVERYONE equally, then we do not have to bring attention to anyone. Period.
Cesare Passarelli Jr. concept of a parent thinking they have a say of what is taught in schools? Very stupid. The concept that not teaching tolerance in schools based on all facets is a good thing? Very stupid. But again, according to NJEA, it is a done deal. Nothing will change it n no one can
Scott A Barnes lol ok scott, we will see about that.
Cesare Passarelli Jr. and can anyone stop it? Unless you live in barnegat where the mayor is pulling a Kapernick and pretending to play activist under the guise of religion. Not like anyone is storming the school to stop it.
Cesare Passarelli Jr. and tell me why history and social studies is taught in schools then ?
The guy makes a good point.stop forcing your sexual preferences on everyone’s kids.
Glenn Spina gross
Glenn Spina exactly when was the last time they discussed George Washington’s sexual orientation during history class?
Glenn Spina
John Henderson when they included Martha in the subject matter
Glenn Spina that is not what is going on? What fool told you that? Many LGBTQs have made impacts in American and world history
John Henderson yup and that word in the meme was never accepted socially
How about Wood and Metal shop instead ?
Earl Creveling yup
Earl Creveling God forbid they use their hands with something constructive.
Earl Creveling isn’t it taught at barnegat high?
I’m gay & would take shop class over State Mandated Homosexuality.
Everyone ignore Tom. He has a fake account with a catfish pic.
PRIVILEGE her big as* pink poster & doesn’t even make sure it’s spelled correctly??
Sharon Lynn Huber is the grammar police still a thing? I thought they died out
it does not need to be taught … because it is all about sexual preference the way you like to have sex ..you can not make children with out medical help .one of you pertends to a man the other a woman you want to confuse our children with your perverted sex life.no should not be taught at all.
Patricia Donato you’re not very informed. Besides being completely off the mark being homosexual is no more sexual than being heterosexual. The biggest difference is that homosexual kids are more often bullied, and have a higher rate of suicide. Why wish to continue non acceptance of any child?
Patricia Donato pertends? Technically ANY sex life can be considered perverted. But you don’t have a say so uh…
Wendy NiHuiginn any parent to teaches their kids their own intolerance are in a way abusing their kids
Wendy NiHuiginn Does not need be taught in Elementary school .High school not to little children .
Scott A Barnes Perversion is a type of human behavior that deviates from that which is understood to be normal. Although the term perversion can refer to a variety of forms of deviation, it is most often used to describe sexual behaviors that are considered particularly abnormal.
Patricia Donato and you don’t have a say in what is taught, lessons or curriculum. The schools n the NJEA does.
Patricia Donato soooooo you’re calling gays a perversion?
I have no problem if you’re gay, but forcing your sexually on someone is wrong, in CA the LGBQ community accepts child molesters. Let our children decide by themselves, like people have dont for 100s of years
Scott Therrien this isn’t indoctrination, it’s merely identifying who in history was gay.
Scott Therrien no one n nothing is being forced. Under the rules of “ex paternum” once a child is on school property. They and only they are the final say in lessons and curriculum
Wendy NiHuiginn why though?
Wendy NiHuiginn like Harvey Milk
I’ll keep my comment on this matter to myself hahaha and leave you with this piece of parental advice.
Coming from a person involved in the lgbtq “community” . I personally don’t feel like this is important enough for our kids to learn . Especially in school. It’s not something your taught. Bring back teaching how to cook, or sewing class, woodshop, ect. . The things that will actually matter when our kids are grown and ready to start their lives . Whatever happened to letting the kids just be kids . These things should not be forced on them
Jessica Lynn If public school would have taught me how to get around the IRS tax codes it would have been a big help.
Yea but the history of the lgbtq community isn’t something important enough to be taught in the schools . It’s something that should be discussed in the privacy of a person’s home . I’m pretty sure the kids can give 2 shits about the history behind it.
Yeah 97% with the mayor 3 % with signs
Richard Mitrosky more like more than a hundred against n looks like zero with the “mayor”
Why are our kids being indoctrinated with the liberal agenda? Shouldn’t we be teaching math, science, writing and history and real history…not sterilized history or patronized history like already have in February
Dave Tober
Dave Tober politics has shit to do with it. But you knew that. Just was told different.
Scott A Barnes The LGBT movement is inherently political.
Tom Kovalev you are inherently irrelevant. You bot
Absolutely no reason for its history to be taught…no way. You wanna be that way go for it. My kids don’t need to learn your angle on it.
Patrick Brennan I agree.
Patrick Brennan really? “Let’s roll”. One of the heroes of 9/11 was a gay male. He didn’t fit any stereotype many would assert to a gay male. But his actions, along with his flight mates saved countless lives. Telling people this hurts how?
Wendy NiHuiginn – He was a hero, a man and a soul that gave his all and proved he gave a shit!
Who gives a shit that he was gay? That’s the entire point.
I love my gay community and family members. Some of the best people that I know. I support their every move and decision.
Why does it have to go past I love them?
Why does anyone need to teach me (Show me in school? Have a class just because their gay and have done great things?). Why should taxpayers have to pay for that class? Why? When it’s not necessary.
Our kids need to learn why America is great, add new detail of new events (black, white, gay, the community with all those letter LQBQTE or whatever it’s called?, Indian, Mexican, Jewish, Trans, “identifying as”, loners, animal lovers” and the list goes on.. it doesn’t matter. That’s what some people argue. Why?
ALL the educated gay, trans, bi, undecided, anyone’s that I know and love, have no desire to leave work, to place themselves on the street and demand everyone knows that they are gay (or other)and have rights-
They are educated and know they have rights. For the love of God, they are married and hold all the benefits of a “conventional” couple. That is awesome and they should just like any other married.
Sure that’s history so throw the date in the books that they became “accepted, acknowledged, and were given equal rights”. Just like the history that came before that paved the road to these new events. Record like any other person the history of the event. No problem.
However, now the accomplishments towards equality for all because all people are equal and should be treated as such, we are now dividing ourselves into many segregation’s for what?
Our sexual preferences?
We have got to get a grip!
Kids need to be taught how to add, socialize, spell, critical think, history, health, physical Ed., English, Banking and Finance for daily living. Music history, Art, Coping Skills for the real world, Acceptable Public Behavior, Patience, Discipline. It does not matter what color, religion, sexual preference or other.. we are ALL human! We can’t just teach that and some life skills?
Wendy NiHuiginn So you have to point out a person was gay that did something important? Really reaching now. They did it, doesn’t matter their race, religion. Sex, color. Just another way to make more divides
Patrick Brennan it shouldn’t matter, I agree, but the fact that hate and bigotry still exists because individual’s don’t want to know and understand the importance of all people necessitates learning about “all” people.
So I would have a different feeling toward a scientist who created something because he was gay? Um NO! I would feel no different than if he were straight. It is all about their accomplishments not about their sexuality. This is ridiculous.
Pattie Guglielmi-Agosto I was raised to believe women couldn’t become police officers because that’s a man’s job. Imagine my surprise when I saw my first female cop.
It’s about knowing how many different people bring something to the table and accomplished great things.
Pattie Guglielmi-Agosto exactly. Since when should we be identified by our sexual orientation. It is beyond ridiculous.
Everyone is so quick to place labels on themselves, like it makes them something more important.
Gay kids don’t think they “can’t do anything,” unless they’re one of those deeply troubled ones.
Tom Kovalev really? What did they teach in Russia?
No better than our friends in Lakewood.
i think its very sad that some of you dont think its important for kids to learn about it
Mara Woodward What’s so important if we learn about some scientist who was gay back in the day? Will it change your life? Will you sleep easier at night time? Why can’t we just give them credit for what they accomplished? Why do we have to know what their sexual desires are?
Pattie Guglielmi-Agosto I think it would be important for teens especially to see somebody of their same orientation accomplish something big that a lot of people in the world don’t think they can do. it’s the same as being the first black president
There’s no harm in it being mentioned and for what, only a sentence in the textbook? Believe it or not, these little things matter to kids.
Mara Woodward are you for real?? Why does it matter to you if a gay man or straight man landed on the moon??? So every straight guy that “accomplish something big” should be emphasized he’s straight???
Lawrence Silva why does it matter if they are straight?
Mara Woodward it’s just bigoted parents thinking they are going pull the kid out of any class even though they cannot
Lawrence Silva not the same thing at all, people aren’t killed for being straight. people arent bullied in school because they’re straight. it matters the same reason it matters to mention someone’s race when they accomplish something big.
Mara Woodward exactly what should they learn about it. What you do in your bedroom or who your attracted to has nothing to do with my child.
Pattie Guglielmi-Agosto thank you for the perfect comment! I totally agree
My child will not participate in anything with LGBTQ. If you wanna be about it, good for you but dont bring that into my family. Ill teach my child on topics like that, school is not my child guardian….
Lawrence Silva if you kid is in school you have no say in the curriculum. From the bus stop till he or she comes home.
Lawrence Silva but school is. Even if your child isn’t gay, I’m sure they will eventually have a classmate that is.
Scott A Barnes actually I do, but no worries my child will already know to walk out of the class. I’ll welcome that phone call from school..
Wendy NiHuiginn I have plenty of gay friends that are against this as well as the LGBTQ.. Its my job to teach my child about matters like this, not the schools place. I get most parents are pathetic but alot of parents that are real role models to there children believe in education that will benefit there child and not useless information like this..
Wendy NiHuiginn And no the school is not my child guardian, that just tells me everything about you lol….
Wendy NiHuiginn look up “ex paternum”. And then you may post if you can. Better yet, it means while the child is on school property, then act “in role of parent”. They are in charge till the kid comes home. Then the parent should teach the child to solidify what was taught in school. All three (parents, administrators, and teachers) have to work to help the students not to force feed them force fed hate…taught to others by hate filled idiots
Scott A Barnes wow are you really that dumb lol???? Maybe that why you are this ignorant lol.. Ok scott with the fake profile, I’ll be sure to take advice from you lol. Pathetic and predictable…
Lawrence Silva what the swill you typed told us all what you are my dude. Not like you’ll pull the kids during lesson time
Scott A Barnes I would say the same about you but it’s clear to see that can’t even write a sentence that makes sense lol. MY DUDE LMFAO…..
Lawrence Silva and since the grammar police are defunct… your “response” makes no sense. Good try though
Lawrence Silva so you’re against history is it talks about people you don’t agree with. That’s funny because I’m pretty sure this knee jerk reaction is the same as what black history, and women’s history went through.
Wendy NiHuiginn unlike you I dont need to know if someone was black, white, gay or straight. Racist people like you like to label people, I for one judge the deeds they do.. I know history very well and could care less what religion, gender or race was accomplish by great men and women.. Stop being racist…
Lawrence Silva you sound like a liberal. I’m not a racist nor am I blind. These reactions by yourself and others are ludicrous and actually cause more problems than help. Hate is on the rise, even among youth. There’s no reason why kids should not be learning that there’s all different types of people doing all different types of great things. If you have a problem with that, then you are part of the problem.
Lawrence Silva and so are the trollish lol emoji
Lawrence Silva and you kid is going to participate. And you, lol YOU are calling anyone a racist?! And since you do not have the college degrees backing you in an educational sense. The professionals will take care of it. Are you must be that dumb , thinking a football helmet means a fake profile because there is no fucking law says I will ever show you my pic. And since I am more of an expert in this industry than you. You’re pathetic and reading from the “ not my child syndrome” handbook.
Scott A Barnes awwww scott dont get upset, everyone knows people that hide there face are cowards, you are no exception.. You cant even hold a intelligent conversation lol. I’m sure people know you are pathetic, the question is do you know you are pathetic??? So be that keyboard tough guy in the dark, scared of the world lol.. To be honest you sound like a little boy so I will discontinue my back and forth with you cause you are very predictable and pathetic..
Wendy NiHuiginn not liberal at all, conservative maybe.. I draw up my conclusion by the act of how someone conduct them self and not by anything else… Race, religion and gender has no bearing on how I see someone. You are actually the problem..
Ok scott….went to bed last night and thought about it and when I woke up today I realized…I see the light…I had a great realization and have come to the conclusion based on previous comments and debates that you still have no clue……???
Lawrence Silva and you think you can judge others or get them do things to placate your fragile ego? You are just mad when someone in the system told you more than you already knew. Only pathetic fools dare call others pathetic.
Internet tough guy? In the dark? Because I choose my profile pic? Wow, such manliness, lol. In the dark? Boy, i am in the light, sitting on a pier enjoying nature and laughing at bigots. Btw, if I a can ask you something, how can typed words define a person’s age? Most times, typed words sound like clickety-clack or wonk wa-wonk wonk in some cases in here. Coming from whatever you are, meaningless words and 7th grade insults mean nothing. Much like some of the bigots in here do. Good luck, indoctrinating people to be like you. May god and the goddess have mercy on them
Cesare Passarelli Jr. damn and I almost forgot who you were… yeah someone IN the system has no clue. Good luck stopping what will already happen. The mayor can’t either. Enjoy your day
A mayor has literally no say in any school’s curriculum local or state level. He is trying to be an activist while being a fake Christian. He has no choice
Scott A Barnes but we as parents should have a choice.
Annette Crawford Hall well, I don’t make the rules. As a person in the industry, I just know that even do nothing protests or mayors whining about it like he is Kim Davis or something. Even storming the DoE in Trenton wont change it.
Annette Crawford Hall Annette you can write a letter to have your child excused from those classes, the parent has the last word always but it has to be done in writing because telling them falls on deaf ears
Patricia Lorraine Zennario if the school doesn’t accept the excuse,
Shouldn’t be force on kids or anybody the mayor is 100% right
George Hobencamp but he has no power to stop this
Actually he does. He is responsible for the community.
Joshua Babeu he cannot stop it because his is limited in his power. Which ends at thinking he has more power than the NJEA or even the superintendent. When a person tries letting faith dictate an elected job, it never ends well
We are all one race …. human. We are all equal under law and under (insert dirty here)
ok hippy
Tom Kovalev ok comrade. Being called a hippy by someone who don’t live in the area. Compliment
Wendy NiHuiginn – He was a hero, a man and a soul that gave his all and proved he gave a shit!
Who gives a shit that he was gay? That’s the entire point.
I love my gay community and family members. Some of the best people that I know. I support their every move and decision.
Why does it have to go past I love them?
Why does anyone need to teach me (Show me in school? Have a class just because their gay and have done great things?). Why should taxpayers have to pay for that class? Why? When it’s not necessary.
Our kids need to learn why America is great, add new detail of new events (black, white, gay, the community with all those letter LQBQTE or whatever it’s called?, Indian, Mexican, Jewish, Trans, “identifying as”, loners, animal lovers” and the list goes on.. it doesn’t matter. That’s what some people argue. Why?
ALL the educated gay, trans, bi, undecided, anyone’s that I know and love, have no desire to leave work, to place themselves on the street and demand everyone knows that they are gay (or other)and have rights-
They are educated and know they have rights. For the love of God, they are married and hold all the benefits of a “conventional” couple. That is awesome and they should just like any other married.
Sure that’s history so throw the date in the books that they became “accepted, acknowledged, and were given equal rights”. Just like the history that came before that paved the road to these new events. Record like any other person the history of the event. No problem.
However, now the accomplishments towards equality for all because all people are equal and should be treated as such, we are now dividing ourselves into many segregation’s for what?
Our sexual preferences?
We have got to get a grip!
Kids need to be taught how to add, socialize, spell, critical think, history, health, physical Ed., English, Banking and Finance for daily living. Music history, Art, Coping Skills for the real world, Acceptable Public Behavior, Patience, Discipline. It does not matter what color, religion, sexual preference or other.. we are ALL human! We can’t just teach that and some life skills?
Valerie Palmer Jones it’s just like learning about African Americans in February. And Hispanics in October
Valerie Palmer Jones very well said
Scott A Barnes also unnecessary.. our kids .. our children need to learn about adulting and how to do it as they grow! They will learn the rest from daily life and interactions… ?
Valerie Palmer Jones and from what is taught at school and by attentive parents. Kids these days are taught by whatever parents that “no you don’t have to work” and sure playing apex legends and fortnite and GTA till 4 am is fine” cmon really?
Scott A Barnes at some point they are going to have to grow up… OR mommy/daddy get to continue to raise adults! But as long as classes have taught them all about the birds, bees, the birds and birds or the bees and bees or the frogs who identity as fish or even fish that like fish but really feel like a rabbit, we call them ready! Yes and in their spare time when they aren’t demanding their recognition they can play games all night ?
Valerie Palmer Jones honestly, if you love everyone so much then why does it matter to mention if a hero or other icon is gay?
I always support LGBT, liquor, Guns, Bacon, Trump
If they do teach it, start with Sodom and Gamora
Joshua Babeu where?
Scott A Barnes pretty sure that’s a gay couple from Guardians of the Galaxy
Tim MacDonald ohhhhhh
I agree with the mayor. We can’t mandate others to believe the way we do.
Parents should have the right to opt their children out.
Annette Crawford Hall well I doubt it’s going to be reversed anytime soon. Opting will show the area who are “ those parents”. Poor kids
Scott A Barnes oh please. Let’s not judge each other by our beliefs.
the LGBT or the GTO
This is simply education I’m sure with the goal of tolerance & acceptance for all who are different. This program will not force people to comply with their beliefs nor will it “make” anyone gay. In this world of intolerance this is so important. Our mayor is out of line using his position to spew his beliefs. He is in a position of authority & should behave accordingly. In my opinion he has misused his position & given the township a bad name. Clearly he is biased & should be removed. I’m sure the next time he is up for election the residents of Barnegat Township will certainly send him a strong message.
Did you know that LGBT tolerance amongst young Americans has been dramatically decreasing each year? More interestingly, young girls became LESS ACCEPTING of LGBT than young boys.
This is due to both heavy LGBT propaganda in the media & Gay Mafia groups injecting their politics and agendas in areas it doesn’t belong.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/24/lgbtq-acceptance-millennials-decline-glaad-survey/1503758001/
I think its best for gay people if this weren’t introduced in the first place. It’d be one less fight between each community.
and you believe the Mayor should be “removed” because of his religious beliefs? Your Christophobia is whack.
Tom Kovalev no I believe he should be removed because he is misusing his position. He can believe whatever he wants he just can’t spew it at a meeting where he should be neutral & a representative of all residents. Last I heard there was separation of church & state. Sounds like I’m not the one with a phobia……
Pat Stadthaus Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Tom Kovalev Tom is a loser troll bot that don’t live here. He is irrelevant
thank god my peoples gay agenda is working ????
If the Gay Mafia doesn’t chill the fuck out we’re all gonna be cancelled soon in this country :p
So everyone who has a problem with their kids learning someone was gay did you also have a problem with the school teaching the history of Edgar Allan Poe and how he married his 13 year old cousin? How Hemingway was a raging alcoholic? Because they teach kids that too. Maybe leave the education to the educators.
There are no standardized lessons. The teacher has card blanch to teach whatever they feel like.
Heather Clausen they didnt teach that… they taught poetry. Nice try though.
Joyce Lynn uh yeah they did hahahahaha, you just proved you have no idea what kids learn in school
Heather Clausen
Nice try but they didn’t teach it.
Karen L Dimacale oh man, I guess I definitely didn’t learn it in my middle school curriculum with the other 200 kids who passed through the same exact lessons. They very much taught the personal lives of the poets you study in language arts. You people must be absentee parents. You have no clue what your children learn until you read about it on Facebook. I’m 31 years old and even I remember learning all of this. We also learned most poets/writers suffered from severe depression and committed suicide. Again, middle school we learned this.
I’m 51 years old and learned the same about writers, poets, and artists being alcoholics or schizophrenic or suffering from depression. However, history was history, and anything to do with sex was taught in health class. Is that obsolete now?
Alice Burdge they’re not teaching sex, they’re teaching that there are people in the gay community who have made accomplishments. It’s the same as teaching black history or women’s history. But people are perverted and can’t get over the fact that some people are simply gay and they cling onto everything being about sex.
Heather Clausen I can’t get the article to download, so all I can do is read the comments. I’d really like to know what this is all about. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Alice Burdge I’ll send you a more informative article.
Heather Clausen ok.
I’m disappointed to live in a world where parents are far more outraged by teaching about gays than common core
Tim MacDonald common core is a proven joke. And is leaving as the “ standard of teaching “ in nj in a couple years. The math part is already gone
Tim MacDonald
It’s not the schools job, it’s the parents decision.
Karen L Dimacale the school IS the final say over lessons n curriculum.
Shannon Bergen- Wianecki
Susan Davenport I have been following this! It’s crazy.
Boys have penises and girls have vaginas. Nothing more. Scientifically proven.
Yes let’s take God out of the pledge Allegiance sub w Allah, n brainwash our kids w transgenderism – this is how the socialist/commies start …. this is how the democrats ensure their votes
Ester Rozdowski go ahead n teach the kids bigotry. A few on here already is.
Ester Rozdowski and this was a bipartisan vote. Do you know what bipartisan means? Since you negated yourself when an idiot told you Dems did this
Scott A Barnes yeah ok keep drinking the koolaide n same fountain as the NJEA
Scott A Barnes no it’s not bigotry it’s s facts ! Most do not want the brainwashing of socialism in the classroom ! Stick to math history etc… HOW ABOUT LETTING PARENTS DECIDE? You liberals destroying not only the economy also common sense You ?s make the Kennedy s look far right
Scott A Barnes also most of us do not want our property taxes going to brainwashing
Scott A Barnes u should move to Canada since you idolize their liberalism high taxes there too
Ester Rozdowski come make me move….. like you have a say on where your property taxes go. Eisenhower who was a Republican saw to that
Ester Rozdowski a slap meme? Wow
this ? driving NJ to doom
Scott A Barnes I would take him over Murphy running Nj ?
Ester Rozdowski Eisenhower put “god” in the pledge. You do not have to say god in said pledge. And every school I’ve been in, it’s an option to say god in the pledge. But keep with the memes and posts.
Ester Rozdowski well they do know more than you and that Cesare kid and Larry too
Scott A Barnes – check out this group Phila schools n Minnesota
Scott A Barnes Sweden – another socialist garbage country … keep flood gates open take our guns away get us high on weed brainwash our kids, ( Adolph had the same theory, n my Grandparents left as they would of been tossed in the chambers)
Scott A Barnes yeah right – anyone w eyes can see the s hole NJ is becoming – have u ever been to Europe? I just got back- socialism not working out too well there
Ester Rozdowski Sweden is far from socialist but keep letting a non expert tell you that
Ester Rozdowski gotta prove a country is socialist like Russia is. Like every government program
Scott A Barnes
Teresa Zerilli-Edelglass
Danielle Bree
This district has a 36% proficiency rating. If the basics like ENGLISH, MATH and SCIENCE, are not being taught properly, I’m supposed to accept and allow them to educate my children on sexual preference and lifestyle? I don’t think so.
Cecil S. Collins Elementary
Ranked 1241 out of 2088
Barnegat High School
Ranked 1698 out of 2088
Robert L. Horbelt Elementary
Ranked 1755 out of 2088
Russell O. Brackman Middle School
Ranked 1726 out of 2088
Lillian M. Dunfee Elementary
Ranked 1729 out of 2088
Joseph T. Donahue Elementary
Ranked 1959 out of 2088
And to be clear, 4.5 % of the US population identifies as LBGTQ. Not sure why we need this to be taught in our schools to appease a minuscule portion of society. If my kids can’t learn about “Adam and Eve” in school, then the shouldn’t be learning about “Adam and Steve”.
Steve Helewa oh grow the fuck up with that bigoted assed “not Adam and Steve” bullshit. Keep religion or your misinterpreted version of it out of schools where it will stay. And prove your laughable 4.5% findings. Or it’s false. Like your cloud in the sky
Steve Helewa
Agree. It’s not the schools place. It’s a parental decision.
Scott A Barnes
It’s not the schools place, it’s the parents decision.
Steve Helewa a 2012 meme. Wow
Karen L Dimacale you already copy n pasted it n while I answered you. Once a student is in school the school n administrators have the only say on lessons and curriculum
Scott A Barnes lol “The only say”. Yea, this America, not North Korea. Curriculums in this country are heavily weighed against the input of parents, the community, and boards full of diverse administrators and educators on both local, state and federal levels.
In other words, our voices and opinions as parents, do matter. And just as you have the right to oppose my position, I have the right to hold that position.
Everyone of you disagreeing with this law are a bunch of idiots you don’t see the potential greatness at all; all you see are you’re own personal preferences; the future of this world are the children in it; and for one I want the future to be better than the world we live in now because it is full of hate; educating children on lgbt history and all obstacles they have overcomed throughout history should be taught; what also needs to be taught is being different is okay; being yourself is okay; the right to express yourself as you are without being chastised for it is what this means; we need to teach the children to be better than we are not worse; you want to change the world and make it a better place it starts at the root; at least if this law is in place; lgbt children will have an understanding of their options instead of being shot down because they’re trans; or bi; or asexual or whatever label they decide to carry if they do decide to carry; open your eyes people and stop being so selfish; you are the way you are because nobody took the time to teach you that change is good; no you’d rather be ignorant and teach ignorance which fuels all the hate towards any person in this world. Be the change! Make a difference ! Not just in your life but in the future lives of the children of this world;
Jayce Rylan Basco
It’s not the schools job.
Karen L Dimacale it’s not? You want to rely on parents who constantly shelter their children from the truth because they think it’s better? Parents who think it’s okay to treat someone different because of their sexual preference or how a person dresses or the color of their skin? Grow up and realize all those things just ADD to the HATE in this world. Being ignorant is childish. Realize the world is changing and let it change
Good for Mayor Alfonso Cirulli’s!!
It’s not the schools job to teach sexual identity. Schools never went out of their to way to draw attention to this idea and they shouldn’t start now. The Governor of NJ has overstepped his authority and stripped parents of their rights by forcing this issue on children.
Any parent who wants to include sexual identity in their home then they should.
Karen L Dimacale how is telling a student “a gay person did xyz” any different than saying a straight person did?
Karen L Dimacale like a parent can control whether or not their child or teen ends up gay. Overstepped. As if you know
Wendy NiHuiginn she doesn’t know, she is waiting to be told the answer to say