Outrage has ensued involving Katy Independent School District barring access to websites that contain LGBTQ-targeted media, such as The Advocate, and even LGBTQ youth resources, such as The Human Rights Campaign, The Trevor Project, and The Montrose Center.
An online petition started by the “Students of Katy ISD” urged the administration of this Houston-area district to unblock the websites, which were classified under “Alternative Sexual Lifestyles” on the Internet filter within the district’s servers. The letter on the petition stated that Katy ISD blocking news sources such as The Advocate not only prevents students from researching queer history and current events, but it also stymies Katy ISD’s commitment to critical thinking and research skills; the petition also argues that censoring resources for LGBTQ students sends a harmful message to them, deeming their lives to be invalid or invaluable. Although the LGBTQ websites have since been re-classified as “Human Sexuality”, Katy ISD students have noticed that websites involving opposite-sex marriage aren’t blocked. Even further, sites like InfoWars are still accessible within the servers in Katy ISD’s schools, the same servers that ban websites which contain suicide prevention resources for LGBTQ students.
Hannah Dellinger, a reporter for the Houston Chronicle, was told by Katy ISD administration that the pre-set Internet filters were meant to comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act. The Children’s Protection Act required school districts to block images that are obscene or pornographic in nature, but not ideas or texts that are considered controversial.
Kennedy Loftin, the chief development officer for The Montrose Center, stated that his organization works in conjunction with several Houston-area school districts to provide resources for LGBTQ students. Even as the region lacks any type of anti-discrimination ordinance, in any jurisdiction, Loftin says that his efforts made sure that students in many school districts can freely access the Montrose Center website and gain resources and other helpful information.
Kennedy Loftin, the chief development officer at the Montrose Center, said typically the center works with local school districts to explain the need for resources such as the center's HATCH youth program to help students. As a result, Loftin said several area school districts' internet portals do not have restrictions on the Montrose Center's online resources.
"I hope that this situation brings to light that school districts need to work a little harder to make the distinction between resources for their youth, and things that are detrimental for their youth," Loftin said. "The Montrose Center's program saves lives. A lot of the other sites that are LGBTQ, affirming with LGBTQ resources, provide life-saving information for youth and sometimes all they need is to know that there are other individuals out there and to get a little bit of help to get through a tough time."
The Houston Chronicle surveyed several districts, and they found that districts such as Houston ISD, Barbers Hill ISD, Fort Bend ISD, Aldine ISD, and Friendswood ISD have not banned The Trevor Project website from their servers. However, districts such as Cypress-Fairbanks (Cy-Fair) ISD and Lamar CISD have restricted access to The Advocate. Students in all school districts can access any LGBTQ websites via mobile coverage, but not without concerns involving access and privacy.
“That’s assuming that all kids have internet access at home and personal cell phones and that they’re safe enough to do so,” said Laura Kanter, manager of youth services at the Montrose Center. “Parents finding out that their child is looking at this information could result in the child being subjected to conversion therapy, violence or being kicked out of home.”
Katy ISD is no stranger to controversy. Back in October, the school district cancelled an appearance by renowned author Jerry Craft, amid parents’ complaints of Craft’s books supposedly teaching “inappropriate” concepts like “critical race theory”. In addition, just more than a week ago, Katy ISD parents were outraged about “pornography” being in school libraries, with the “pornography” in question being LC Rosen’s Jack of Hearts, a book involving young LGBTQ romance; earlier this month, Texas governor Greg Abbott (R) calls for pornography to be removed from public school libraries.