First grade teacher Melissa Tempel was happy to perform rainbow country by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton with their students at the spring concert. The Waukesha, Wisconsin school district decided otherwise, saying the rainbow-themed song “could be considered controversial.”
“My first years were so excited to sing Rainbowland for our spring concert but our administration vetoed it. when will this end Heyer Elementary School teacher Melissa Tempel protested on Twitter on March 21.
Prohibited LGBTQ+ topics
The decision to ban the song “Rainbowland” by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton and the classic Muppet film “Rainbow Connection” would be directly related to the themes of inclusion celebrated in the two plays, as well as that of the rainbow, whose colors are the skies are known to evoke the LGBTQ+ community.
The principal and central administrator “decided that the song could be considered controversial” based on their policy on controversial issues in the classroom, PEOPLE magazine explained.
Be aware that Florida’s controversial new law bans LGBTQ issues in schools. The popularity of Dolly Parton and her niece Miley Cyrus among drag queens and the LGBTQ community would also be an issue “because it could have a political, social or personal impact on students and/or the community,” the same project states.
Barack Obama’s support
“The story of Rainbowland is much more than a banned song,” added the activist teacher, who now has a certain Barack Obama among her Twitter followers. The outcome of the political backslide on inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights in schools is unfolding and tragic. »
The teacher also shared the lyrics to the song about inclusion and self-acceptance, a 2017 collaboration between the two singers that can be found on Miley Cyrus’ sixth studio album Younger Now.
This week, the song Rainbowland found itself at number 76 in the top 100 most listened and downloaded songs.
Last Thursday, Melissa Tempel announced on Twitter that the song Rainbow Connection from The Muppet Movie is no longer banned thanks to emails from parents and local group Alliance for Education. “I don’t know where I would be without her,” she wrote.