Wake Forest commissioner opposes Pride? | Skirt-wearing male teacher "not-gay"? - update | COVID-19 origins investigation vs UNC
No. 94 — Oct. 13-Oct. 19, 2024
Wake Forest commissioner Faith Cross takes a rare stand against the town's first "Pride Fest" earlier this month
Commissioner Faith Cross took the opportunity at the town board meeting this week to comment in opposition to the Wake Forest Pride Fest, in contrast to Mayor Vivian Jones and Commissioners Adam Wright and Keith Shackelford who spoke positively of the event.
"There is a very real and valid concern about what goes on on our public streets," Cross said. "This event, despite claiming inclusivity, was very divisive."
Cross cited the fact that information about the event was shared on an LGBTQ website which also featured sexually explicit advertisements, as well as the fact that a member of the "anti-Christian drag group" Sister of Perpetual Indulgence was present in drag. Cross also says there was a survey asking if people would like to see drag performances or a drag queen story hour next year.
In terms of the future, Cross referenced the fact that the town's Special Events Policy under which the non-governmental event was scheduled was up for review and revision: "Moving forward, for the sake of our children, I would desire to see any events on our streets be G-rated events."
REPORT: Wake Forest Pride Fest (No. 92 — Oct. 5, 2024)
ICYMI: Male Wake Co. Middle School Teacher Wears Skirt, Tells Students About Homosexual "Love Life"; Principal Denies Student's Transfer Request
This week's story regarding the male middle school teacher who wore a skirt to school and reportedly talked to his students about his "love life" (as amplified by LibsOfTiktok and covered here and in the News & Observer) was the subject of most speakers at the Wake County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday.
Although many of the speakers (including Moms for Liberty members and the mother of the student in question) came to speak out against the teacher and/or the schools "inclusive" decision not to transfer the student, even more were aware of the situation through the "LibsOfTikTok pounces"-style N&O article and came to express their support for the school system and the skirt wearing teacher.
The vocal supporters included school board member Sam Hershey, who said he was "really angry" at the responses to the LibsOfTikTok post, calling Moms for Liberty a "hate group" whom he accused of "doxxing" the teacher.
In an update to the story, as reported by Keung Hui of the N&O, the skirt-wearing male teacher says he is not gay, but that students did overhear him talking in the hallway with coworkers about his "crush" on a male barista (a totally not-gay thing to have), and claims it was in fact his students who continued to bring this up in class.
Judge rules in favor of UNC in public records suit brought by medical watchdog investigating COVID-19
Judge Allows Thousands of UNC Records to Remain Secret in COVID Transparency Lawsuit - Headline USA
An Orange County judge has ruled against medical watchdog group U.S. Right to Know in a public records proceeding against the University of North Carolina, holding that only a small portion of the documents sought in the lawsuit as part of the organization's investigation into the origins of COVID-19 would have to be turned over.
At issue in the case was the interpretation of an exception to NC's public records law for "research data, records, and information of a proprietary nature".
In yesterday's ruling, Judge Alyson Grine adopted UNC's broad construal of the exception, meaning the university will only have to turn over approximately two-hundred and fifty out of the thousands of documents, which a 3rd party reviewer found would be public records even under this interpretation, as we covered previously:
Prior coverage:
Public Records Lawsuit Against UNC by Medical Watchdog Group Investigating COVID-19 Origins Advances (Original Article — Nov. 6, 2023)
UNC claims "research project collaborations" are exempt from public records statute in COVID-19 origins investigation lawsuit (No. 57 — Feb. 3, 2024)
U.S. Right to Know public records lawsuit reveals efforts to evade transparency (No. 58 — Feb. 10, 2024)
Coronavirus Pandemic Subcommittee alleges FBI interest in UNC/COVID origins public records requests (No. 59 — Feb. 17, 2024)
UNC COVID-19 Origins Public Records Lawsuit: what does "proprietary mean"? (No. 61 — Mar. 2, 2024)
"Stop Gain of Function" rally at UNC-Chapel Hill (No. 62 — Mar. 9, 2024)
UNC-linked coronavirus researcher accused of "discrepancies in testimony" (No. 66 — Apr. 6, 2024)
UNC coronavirologist Ralph Baric: "can't rule out" lab leak origin of COVID-19 (No. 70 — May 4, 2024)
