Wisconsin school district bans Miley Cyrus-Dolly Parton duet with 'rainbow' in title
Parents in the district say the decision was made because the song, "Rainbowland," encourages LGBTQ acceptance
Parents in the district say the decision was made because the song, "Rainbowland," encourages LGBTQ acceptance
Parents in the district say the decision was made because the song, "Rainbowland," encourages LGBTQ acceptance
Administrators at a Wisconsin elementary school stopped a first-grade class from performing a Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton duet promoting LGBTQ acceptance because the song 鈥渃ould be perceived as controversial.鈥�
Students at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha, Wisconsin, had prepared a rendition of 鈥淩ainbowland鈥� for their spring concert, but school officials struck the song from the lineup last week. Parents in the district say the decision was made because the song encourages LGBTQ acceptance and references rainbows.
Superintendent James Sebert has previously prohibited rainbows and pride flags from being displayed in classrooms. In 2021, Sebert suspended equity and diversity work at the school district, which is located less than 20 miles outside of Milwaukee.
鈥淟et鈥檚 all dig down deep inside, brush the judgment and fear aside,鈥� the song from Cyrus鈥� 2017 album 鈥淵ounger Now鈥� goes. 鈥淟iving in a Rainbowland, where you and I go hand in hand. Oh, I鈥檇 be lying if I said this was fine, all the hurt and the hate going on here.鈥�
First-grade teacher Melissa Tempel said she chose the song because its message seemed universal and sweet. The class concert鈥檚 theme was 鈥淭he World鈥� and included other songs such as 鈥淗ere Comes the Sun,鈥� by The Beatles and 鈥淲hat a Wonderful World,鈥� by Louis Armstrong.
鈥淢y students were just devastated. They really liked this song and we had already begun singing it,鈥� Tempel said Monday.
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Administrators also initially banned the song 鈥淩ainbow Connection鈥� from The Muppets but later reversed that decision, according to Tempel.
Parents have been angered by the song鈥檚 removal, Tempel said. But she was more concerned about what the ban and other district policies against expressing LGBTQ support meant for students.
鈥淭hese confusing messages about rainbows are ultimately creating a culture that seems unsafe towards queer people,鈥� she said.
Spokespersons for Parton and Cyrus did not immediately respond to emails on Monday asking the artists鈥� thoughts on the ban.
Wisconsin school boards races, including in Waukesha, have become increasingly partisan in recent years. Republicans saw big gains across the state鈥檚 school board races in 2022 and have used the positions to challenge policies from rules about transgender kids to COVID-19 restrictions.