A private Christian school in Florida told parents ahead of the next school year that students will be identified only by their “biological sex” and said students who “participate” in gay or transgender lifestyles will be asked to “immediately leave the school”. .” “We believe that God created mankind in His image: male (man) and female (woman), sexually different but of equal dignity,” Grace Christian School Principal Barry McKeen said in an email sent to the school community in June. according to NBC News. . “Therefore, one’s biological sex must be affirmed, and there must be no attempts to physically change, alter, or disagree with one’s biological sex — including, but not limited to, selective gender reassignment, transvestite, transgender, or non-binary gender fluid acts of behavior (Genesis 1:26-28). Students at the school will be listed by gender on their birth certificate and will be listed by name in the same way,” the email continued. The private Christian school is located in Valrico, Florida, which is less than 20 miles outside of Tampa. NBC News obtained a copy of the email, which was sent to parents on June 6 with the subject line, “Important Point of Emphasis on School Policy. … Please Read.” FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT RESPONDS TO GENDER LAW WITH NEW REPORTING SYSTEM FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS Exterior photo of Grace Christian School in Florida. (Google Maps) (Google Maps) The email to parents says the gay and transgender policies are not new, but that parents “must agree to all policies and procedures before your student starts school in August.” “Students found to be engaging in these lifestyles will be asked to leave school immediately,” the email added. One mother said she pulled her middle school daughter, who identifies as a lesbian, from school after the email. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT PLACES WARNING LABELS ON OVER 100 BOOKS “I really respect their opinion,” the mom, who asked not to be identified for fear of harassment, told WFLA, “but my daughter’s well-being, well-being and mental health are more important.” Toronto, Canada – June 25, 2017: Gay Pride Parade spectator holding a small gay rainbow flag during the 2017 Toronto Pride Parade (iStock) The unidentified mother said the policy is not new from what she has read, but said she was unaware of the rule until now. She told the report that she sent all her children to Grace Christian, but would not send her youngest daughter back to the school for her junior year. “She was afraid that she would open her mouth and expose herself … but she’s not afraid anymore,” the mother said. NOT JUST FLORIDA: STATES WEIGH BILLS BANNING GENDER IDENTIFICATION AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION GUIDELINES Grace Christian describes itself as “a Christ-centered, preparatory school serving students in the Greater Tampa Bay area in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade,” according to its website. The school was founded in 1975 by fellow members of Grace Community Church, which is an independent Bible church. File photo – 13th century mosaic of Jesus Christ in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey (iStock) (hadynyah/iStock) The school released a video response to the NBC News article, in which McKeen referred to the writing and emphasized that the policy is nothing new and will remain in place. McKeen noted that he chose not to speak with the NBC News reporter, explaining “I think it was clear from the beginning that this person is not for us, but against us.” “It is true that a student cannot come to our school … and be transgender or gay. That is rooted in the scriptures,” he said in the video. “God has spoken about these issues, explicitly, aggressively, and we’ve had these policies in our school from day one in the early 1970s. This is not new.” “We are not a hateful group of people. We don’t hate students who hold a certain belief,” he added in the video. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The school did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the policy on Sunday.
