Colin Perucco Mentioned Marsha P. Johnson In Class and Some Parents Want Him Fired

Colin Perucco is a Minnetonka Middle School East language arts teacher who teaches a “Person of the Day” segment in his online pandemic class. One day, Perucco highlighted Marsha P. Johnson—an early gay rights activist and drag queen, who was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969—and, well, you know what happened.

A parent recorded the lesson and sent it to the Daily Caller—a right-wing news and opinion website co-founded by Fox News asshat Tucker Carlson—telling them that “there is no excuse to bring any of this into the classroom” and that she “finds the political atmosphere of classrooms inexcusable.”

Other parents shot back that the parent’s disregard for the safety of school staff and students was a violation of school policy; recording the online classes is against policy to protect all the students and their families. And those parents, and their children, stood up with, and for, Colin Perucco as the manufactured outrage over the two minutes dedicated to Johnson’s life grew. It even caused the Principal, Pete Dymit, to send an email:

“I want to let all MME families know that I feel Mr. Perucco is an excellent teacher who is highly committed to supporting the academic, social and emotional development of our students. He is loved by his students, respected by his peers, and I look forward to having him as a part of our staff for many years.”

Sadly, while Dymit, students and many parents,  voiced support for Perucco, the school board remained silent, and parents and activists both wonder what message that sends to students and teachers.

One parent wrote:

“It is imperative for our district board to issue a statement stating that they stand with our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community members and that attempts to intimidate and silence teachers who stand for equity and who teach inclusive content will not be tolerated. The board’s silence on this issue to date is unacceptable.”

The only statement given by the board sidestepped Colin Perucco entirely and insinuated that the profile on a legendary Black drag queen and early champion of the LGBTQ+ rights wasn’t “appropriate.”

Luckily, most at the school feel the two minutes was appropriate and plan to march in support of Perucco and to demand the school board do better, noting that Colin Perucco closed that Marsha P. Johnson video lesson by saying this:

“We’re all going through this life together. We are all human beings experiencing the world in very different but also very similar ways. [Let’s] give a little extra grace to the people around us.”

Oh my gosh, what a horrible lesson to teach our children! I guess some parents, and members of the school board need to realize that while we are all not the same, we are very much alike, and rather than tear one another down we should build one another up.

LGBTQ Nation