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mfcorey1

(11,001 posts) Sat Jun 17, 2017, 06:32 PM Jun 2017

Gay Teacher Of The Year Fans LGBTQ Pride In Viral Photo With Donald Trump

Gay teacher Nikos Giannopoulos’ displayed his LGBTQ pride as he sported a rainbow pin and clutched a lacy fan in an official photo with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. And now the Rhode Island teacher of the year’s bold stand for LGBTQ rights has gotten global attention after the image went viral on Facebook.

Giannopoulos, who teaches 11th and 12th graders at Beacon Charter High School for the Arts in Woonsocket, visited the White House with other teacher of the year winners in April. He received the photo of his moment with Trump this week and immediately posted it to Facebook.

Though Trump has previously pledged to protect LGBTQ citizens, but members of the community have expressed concern that his administration is rolling back their civil rights in areas such as education.

Giannopoulos said he wore the pin “to represent my gratitude for the LGBTQ community that has taught me to be proud, bold, and empowered by my identity — even when circumstances make that difficult.” He brought the fan that day to “celebrate the joy and freedom of gender nonconformity.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/teacher-of-the-year-trump_us_5944c6c3e4b01eab7a2de4d2?cjl&ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009

4 replies

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Gay Teacher Of The Year Fans LGBTQ Pride In Viral Photo With Donald Trump (Original Post) mfcorey1 Jun 2017 OP

I give him credit - I would have refused the photo op. Siwsan Jun 2017 #1

"The man seated at the desk read prepared remarks from a sheet of paper and made some comments DK504 Jun 2017 #2

The smile may have thrown ya.... dixiegrrrrl Jun 2017 #4

And ... left-of-center2012 Jun 2017 #3

Siwsan

(26,262 posts)

1. I give him credit - I would have refused the photo op.

Reply to mfcorey1 (Original post)

Sat Jun 17, 2017, 06:41 PM

Jun 2017

DK504

(3,847 posts)

2. "The man seated at the desk read prepared remarks from a sheet of paper and made some comments

Reply to mfcorey1 (Original post)

Sat Jun 17, 2017, 06:57 PM

Jun 2017

... about CEOs and which states he ‘loved,’ based on electoral votes that he had secured."

Brilliant!!! 'The man seated at the desk"..... Is that really the Dumpster? It looks like a statue or a cutout, like it isn't real. Wishful thinking, but...

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

4. The smile may have thrown ya....

Reply to DK504 (Reply #2)

Sat Jun 17, 2017, 07:40 PM

Jun 2017

He is usually scowling or pouting.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)

3. And ...

Reply to mfcorey1 (Original post)

Sat Jun 17, 2017, 07:07 PM

Jun 2017

(Trump) did not rise from his seat to present the national teacher of the year with her much-deserved award, nor did he allow her to speak.

(teacher Nikos Giannopoulos) wanted to speak to the president, but none of the teachers got the chance.

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