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Fullerton Voter Support
Fullerton Voter Comments
I remember when my sister was at Troy HS they didn’t let the theatre program perform Laramie Project which is a play about Matthew Shepard, i’m disappointed that the district continues to ignore this story when it is so important.
by actively ignoring the story of Matthew Shepard, you’re sending a message to all LQBTQ+ students in the district that their stories don’t matter. We need to learn to spread Love and not hate.
Love is Love.
As an alumni of FUHS and CSUF Music programs, it was incredibly disheartening to hear about this. In high school, having opportunities to connect with the greater community and local colleges were formative to my education, both musically and interpersonally. It is sad to hear this has been taken from current students.
All 19 Fullerton Voter Signatures
Miles Rojo
October 11th, 2023
Shelby Perlis
October 7th, 2023
Genevieve Clark
October 7th, 2023
Cooper Miller
October 7th, 2023
Adam Rooney
October 7th, 2023
Hannah Black
October 7th, 2023
Kelsey Rhebergen
October 7th, 2023
Adam Rooney
October 7th, 2023
Alexei Rehorn
October 6th, 2023
Logan Mintz-Hernandez
October 6th, 2023
Jenna Hansen
October 4th, 2023
Angelica
October 4th, 2023
Thalia Moore
October 4th, 2023
Evan Banks
October 4th, 2023
Adena Bentley
October 4th, 2023
Anthony Osborn
October 4th, 2023
Enrique Ortega
October 4th, 2023
Andrew Gonzalez
October 3rd, 2023
Joy Dorko
October 2nd, 2023
Fullerton Community Support
Fullerton Community Comments
As a current Cal State Fullerton student and alumnus of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, I feel strongly disappointed that students were prohibited from participating in an event mourning the loss of an innocent human being that they rehearsed and expected to perform in. The fact that Matthew Shepard identified as gay sends a powerful message to LGBTQ high school students in the district that the local community does not accept them for who they are. Considering that I have many positive memories from high school, I strongly request an apology and explanation for this upsetting incident that tarnishes the reputation and public image of a school district that I hold in high respect.
Dishearted and disappointed by the actions and contradict the district's mission statement. I am an alumni and frequent the performances at these campus. The biggest disappointment is the opportunities taken from these students and performers, but these actions sent a louder message. These students will not forget and neither will the fullerton community and voters.
I'm very sad and disappointed in the actions taken by Fullerton Joint Union High School District. As a CSUF student and campus advocate, these activities are critical for community - and I personally get what it's like for schools to cancel these types of things at the last minute. This is horrendous behavior, and shows a lack of care by FJUHSD to its students.
Art is a powerful tool which allows us to share stories, present ideas, and to give voice to those without. This piece is powerful and tells a real story about a young man brutally murdered only because he had the audacity to be born gay. Let students explore art, explore stories, and learn about real people, real history, and have conversations about it. What is harmful about a conversation or sharing of a piece of art?
I went to Troy High School from 2011-2015, where the district did not initially let our theatre department do The Laramie Project. It took a letter and a petition to finally, reluctantly, let us do it. However, at Fullerton High School, their theatre department was able to do shows like Cabaret and Sweeney Todd without the district batting an eye. The district is okay with high schoolers doing shows related to sex and violence, but not about showcasing the struggles the LGBTQ+ community deals with? Representation is immensely important to the arts, especially for young people.
Any opportunity to sing, to perform, and to connect with fellow musicians and potential colleagues on a human level is a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity; and that opportunity was yanked like a rug from underneath these young musicians. Considering the hard work all of them have input, transparency is imperative. Most importantly, the fact that many members of our choirs and citizens of our communities indentify with the LGBTQIA+ community makes this missed opportunity incredibly disheartening. As a Troy High Concert Choir alumnus, it is devastatingly heartbreaking to know that this opportunity was stripped away from them; also, as a returning college student, the opportunity to have been able to sing with the new generation of my alma mater would’ve filled my heart. I’m positive this experience would have made them feel the same way.
As a queer music educator, it is more than disheartening that these students weren’t able to participate in this collaborative project. For those young musicians, this would have been an opportunity to deepen their already established passion for choral music and find community in their peers. If a flaw in paperwork is the reason for their absence, something that could be corrected so easily, it is inexcusable. If homophobia is the reason for their absence, it is shameful. My heart is with the many LGBTQIA+ students in this program who needed this message of hope and love at such a pivotal moment in their growth as young people.
Make it right.
As someone who identifies within the community, and moved to CSUF specifically for the in inclusivity and positive environment, it appalls to hear what happened. We need a explanation and an apology immediately and deserve it as well.
This project would have meant worlds to me if I were back in High School. To have a technicality be a strong factor that took away the work I put into a piece of music, it would have crushed me at their age.
I am extremely disappointed that the high school students were denied the opportunity to share and grow their skills, talent, and personal experiences. This was a wonderful opportunity for a community experience that was taken from the students after weeks of preparation. The school district can and should do better.
All 40 Fullerton Community Signatures
Emily Gjevre
November 6th, 2023
Jaden Hom
November 6th, 2023
Lindsey Lacanilao
October 10th, 2023
Sara Preston
October 10th, 2023
Karely Pena
October 8th, 2023
Nicholas Fiore
October 8th, 2023
Yvonne Huffaker
October 7th, 2023
Mitchell James Sampang
October 7th, 2023
Jasmine Adams
October 7th, 2023
Amy Parker
October 7th, 2023
Caroline Bilger
October 7th, 2023
Breanna Love
October 7th, 2023
William Robertson
October 7th, 2023
Paige Rooney
October 7th, 2023
Sydney Castiglione
October 7th, 2023
David Pulanco
October 7th, 2023
Jason Magallanes
October 6th, 2023
Alejandro Rocha
October 6th, 2023
Emerson Kimble
October 6th, 2023
Korie Smith
October 6th, 2023
Benny Fisher
October 6th, 2023
Jessica Salsgiver
October 6th, 2023
Liz Butler
October 6th, 2023
Anthony Alcain
October 6th, 2023
Israel Acosta
October 6th, 2023
Z Dickerson
October 5th, 2023
Ray Flores
October 5th, 2023
Amber Napoli
October 4th, 2023
Yadira Aguilar
October 4th, 2023
Ashton Hackwith
October 4th, 2023
CJ Koehn
October 4th, 2023
Daniel Freeman
October 4th, 2023
Nya Nulty
October 4th, 2023
Benjamin Reyes
October 3rd, 2023
Sofia Vaides Melia
October 3rd, 2023
Bryce Rivera
October 3rd, 2023
Adam Daruvala
October 3rd, 2023
Marissa Valenzuela
October 3rd, 2023
Sarah Turner
October 2nd, 2023
Martina Goldring
October 2nd, 2023
Orange County/LA Community Support
Orange County/LA Community Comments
Incredibly disappointing. This is a very close minded hateful choice.
Fullerton has been known for a city with a collaborative, inclusive city. Don’t let this mar that image. Make it right.
Think of the message you’re sending to all your LGBTQ+ students: that they don’t matter. And the message you’re sending to all your other students: that violence against your LGBTQ+ students is acceptable. Your responsibility is to protect ALL your students, and you are failing.
I’m not a student or member of the choirs involved, but a friend of one of them. I’m so disappointed in the actions of the superintendent and the fact that he didn’t stand up for the original decision to sing that song.
How cowardly and weak to be an adult with the kind of power and privilege of that superintendent and yet choosing to cancel something that was so important to so many. With his lack of explanation and silence, it reflects very poorly on him and his team, having him look homophobic and bigoted. I would be very disappointed to know that the person in charge of my choir wasn’t a safe person, and I’m angry and heartbroken for the members knowing this is the kind of person making decisions.
Way to push away and harm an already marginalized group of people, Mr Superintendent. Do better next time.
What message do you think this gives to LGBTQ+ students of your school district? It’s heartbreaking to see that almost 25 years later, Matthew Shepard’s legacy is still polarizing.
Earth Williams 10/07/2023
The disappointment and resentment i feel towards this decision cannot adequately be put into words. There was no good reason to call this off and everyone involved in making that decision should assess their personal biases asap. Our LGBTQ+ friends just want representation and to simply be heard, and striking this down doesn't help with that at all. Shame to everyone involved that prevent this from happening.
This feels like a step back. As a gay man, this hurts my heart.
The school saying no at the last minute told not only their students, but us that they still do not want to make a change in this subject. This story needed to be heard, this song needed to be heard, and the choice made stripped kids of an opportunity to let themselves be heard through this project. This is not okay, and it sets many things back in the community.
How disappointing. Do more for students. It’s the bare minimum. They deserve so much more than what you’ve done for them.
This is the type of extremely disappointing behavior that people often expect from Orange County. Having gone to high school in Orange County myself 20 years ago, it is extremely sad to me that this type of discrimination against LGBTQIA people and art is still alive and well. Is there no room for progress?
Joy, thanks for being pro active!
Attempting to silence voices only makes them louder. I stand with students.
We live in a world community that is becoming increasingly interconnected through technology, and at the same time, actions like these work to undermine that global connection by denying the existence of people who are different than us. The performance of this piece not only was an opportunity for the students to participate in an art project that transcended their immediate world in high school, but for them to experience the stories of those who they might either relate to or not know at all.
Denying them the ability to develop critical thinking skills in their own selves is a massive disappointment and disservice to the world at large.
All 69 Orange County/LA Community Signatures
Donald Mineo
October 22nd, 2023
George Arias
October 20th, 2023
Favian Lopez
October 20th, 2023
Greer Nicholson
October 20th, 2023
Laura Long
October 20th, 2023
Josh Mills
October 19th, 2023
Wendy W
October 18th, 2023
Julian Orozco
October 18th, 2023
Sam Orona
October 18th, 2023
Myrna Bohan
October 17th, 2023
Kristen Flynn
October 17th, 2023
Joy H
October 13th, 2023
Ethan Wu
October 13th, 2023
Alejandro Thompson
October 12th, 2023
Wilson Le
October 12th, 2023
Michelle Abeniante
October 12th, 2023
Aron Demarest
October 11th, 2023
Agnes Wang
October 11th, 2023
Frank Watnick
October 11th, 2023
Marilyn Negron
October 10th, 2023
Jessica Torres
October 9th, 2023
Alexis Farah
October 9th, 2023
Minerva Padilla Nguyen
October 8th, 2023
Desiree Nguyen
October 7th, 2023
Jaime Javier Reza
October 7th, 2023
Nat Betancourt Arellano
October 7th, 2023
Earth Williams
October 7th, 2023
Tyler Benson
October 7th, 2023
Jared Whiston
October 7th, 2023
Tricia Tran
October 7th, 2023
Michael Judge Ferrer
October 7th, 2023
Leslye Pena
October 7th, 2023
Sidney Wu
October 7th, 2023
Misa Iokibe
October 7th, 2023
Amber Clark
October 7th, 2023
Alejandra Morales
October 7th, 2023
Brittney Tang
October 7th, 2023
Gavin Huffaker
October 7th, 2023
Sierra Swift
October 7th, 2023
Dan Tran
October 7th, 2023
Dylan Wicks
October 6th, 2023
Emily H.
October 6th, 2023
Sam Porter
October 6th, 2023
Pablo Acosta
October 6th, 2023
Veronica Torres
October 6th, 2023
Gabriela K. Atkinson
October 6th, 2023
Emily Morley
October 6th, 2023
Lucero Tamayo
October 6th, 2023
Katelyn Cruz
October 6th, 2023
Rebecca Ojeda
October 5th, 2023
Kaitlin Chheng
October 5th, 2023
Sarah Cabrera
October 5th, 2023
Stephanie Camacho-Van Dyke
October 4th, 2023
Dylan Leisure
October 4th, 2023
Marina Harris
October 4th, 2023
Kelly Self
October 4th, 2023
Brianna Finnell
October 4th, 2023
Ahlitney Lucas-Krebs
October 4th, 2023
Carly Ransom
October 4th, 2023
Amber Robins
October 4th, 2023
Minji Kim
October 4th, 2023
Ana Paula Farano
October 4th, 2023
Ken Wyant
October 4th, 2023
Jakob Swetland
October 4th, 2023
Savana Thomas
October 4th, 2023
Michael Judge Ferrer
October 4th, 2023
Connie Jones
October 3rd, 2023
Kris Kelley
October 3rd, 2023
Eleanor Anne Dote
October 2nd, 2023
General Public Support
General Public Comments
I fail to see what reason could exist outside of homophobia that would cause this situation. I am disappointed and frustrated that in 2023 this attitude can still be happening. Do better.
Although I live out of state now, I have always viewed where I grew up as more progressive than where I am now, which is Ohio. It’s sad when it seems that that’s not the truth…
Allow ALL people to be who they ARE and stop adding anguish, suicidal ideation, depression, marginalization, abuse, and sadness to the lives of a certain group of people. It’s just plain unethical and prejudice.
I was disheartened to hear of this lost opportunity for students to participate in such an important musical experience demonstrating community solidarity in supporting love, peace, and kindness to all.
Not a student at CSUF but this is highly unacceptable. In all actuality, its just a song and no one is forcing your homophobic ass to sing it, so why do you care? College is about finding and expressing who you are, not shutting down your students because of your beliefs. No one with that much disrespect should have that much power over the free will of the students. Disappointed is an understatement.
I was among the very few from Fullerton college that attended this recorded performance and was so sad to hear that FUD couldn’t preform :( do better
Homophobia is ramping up as the country turns vitriolic towards trans folks. This decision is deeply harmful to the community and the musicians. We need folks to do better.
Especially in today’s political environment it is extremely disappointing to see a culturally relevant event be undermined by the same leadership that should be supporting all opportunities students have to learn and commemorate such important parts of our country’s history of violence towards marginalized people. These biases and slights from leadership, whether intentional or not, minimize the significance of these events and should not be tolerated.
Please do better.
As all humans created of God, our every choice must be motivated by love. When we deny our brother, that boomerangs back upon ourselves
I fully agree with this letter and urge those I leadership to consider it carefully and respond with action.
All 60 General Public Signatures
Aaron-Michael Quintero
October 25th, 2023
Miguel Larios
October 21st, 2023
Mark Malebranche
October 20th, 2023
Samantha
October 20th, 2023
Richel Newborg
October 19th, 2023
Kirstin Largent
October 18th, 2023
Tina Klein
October 18th, 2023
Kim Hughes
October 17th, 2023
Angie Holmes
October 17th, 2023
Misty Dupuis
October 17th, 2023
Zachary Martin
October 17th, 2023
Kat Franchino
October 16th, 2023
Em Nguyen
October 14th, 2023
Lilah Hernandez
October 13th, 2023
Itzel Martinez
October 12th, 2023
Anthony C
October 11th, 2023
Victoria Bausch
October 9th, 2023
Tallie
October 9th, 2023
Kristie Moss
October 9th, 2023
Tanya Bouwman-Wozencraft
October 9th, 2023
Tammy Aaron RN, BSN
October 9th, 2023
Lucy Lang
October 8th, 2023
Jose Ramirez
October 7th, 2023
Sheryl Salsgiver
October 7th, 2023
Renata Olivares
October 7th, 2023
Ty R
October 7th, 2023
Ray Badua
October 7th, 2023
Jon Rios Brady
October 7th, 2023
Callie Shehan
October 7th, 2023
Mady San Luis
October 7th, 2023
Kathleen szick
October 7th, 2023
Laura Mueller, School Psychologist, San Diego County
October 6th, 2023
Lyric
October 6th, 2023
Aidan Daley
October 6th, 2023
Ahlana Cobarrubias
October 6th, 2023
Bri Zucker
October 6th, 2023
Brian Rudloff
October 6th, 2023
Melina Jaharis
October 6th, 2023
Kate B.
October 6th, 2023
Kathleen Lewis
October 6th, 2023
Monica Sanchez
October 6th, 2023
Justis Mitchell
October 6th, 2023
Crystal Flores
October 6th, 2023
Hannah Holmberg
October 6th, 2023
Sophia Ohannessian
October 6th, 2023
Bryan Malone
October 6th, 2023
Dylan Chumney
October 6th, 2023
Jordan Birgy-Krasnoff
October 6th, 2023
Danielle Malone
October 6th, 2023
Anne Dorko
October 5th, 2023
Rita Daruvala
October 5th, 2023
Marcia Lucas
October 4th, 2023
Heather Nicole Ferris
October 4th, 2023
Leland
October 4th, 2023
Kevin Barba
October 4th, 2023
Annie Goldring
October 4th, 2023
Elisa Klein
October 4th, 2023
Vanessa Renteria
October 4th, 2023
Jemma Goldring
October 4th, 2023
Tatum Tricarico
October 3rd, 2023
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