DISD persecution of Gays and Lesbians, time for justice, memorial to George Blair Jr. at Hillcrest HS, rename Nolan Estes Plaza to Dr. Harryette Ehrhardt Plaza. Memorial to victims.
Letter written to school board president Justin Henry with copies to all the school board members with multiple requests to remember the victims of past DISD homophobia and to honor Dr. Ehrhardt.
Help to get the word out about what is happening in Dallas.
Letter to DISD Board President Justin Henry
February 2, 2023 [Actually mailed 2/9/2023]
Edward H. Sebesta
Justin Henry – President
Dallas Independent School Board
Dallas ISD Board Services Office
5151 Samuell Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75228
Dear Mr. Henry:
Please find enclosed a short history of the Dallas Independent School District firing teachers because they were Lesbian or Gay. It is also online as a downloadable PDF at:
https://issuu.com/edwardh.sebesta/docs/hillcrest_high_school_and_gay_and_lesbian_teaching
You can also read it online at this link: [Substack automatically formats substack links this way, it was just a link in the letter.]
I also enclose two flyers, one about the firing of George Blair Jr., and the other about Nolan Estes deciding to campaign against Gay teachers.
I see at the DISD website that there is plans to name a new DISD plaza in downtown Dallas after Nolan Estes. Nothing anywhere should be named after this bigot.
https://thehub.dallasisd.org/2021/11/19/downtown-schools-site-to-be-named-nolan-estes-plaza/
The only bright spot in that time of bigotry in Dallas was DISD school board member Dr. Harryette Ehrhardt who opposed Nolan Estes’ attacks on Lesbians and Gays despite the opposition of fellow school board members. Nothing is named after her.
To take ownership of these historic wrongs, to not honor bigots, and to recognize those who stood for justice I ask that the following be done.
1. Nothing should be named after Nolan Estes and instead should be named or renamed after Dr. Harryette Ehrhardt.
2. DISD should identify all the teachers that were fired merely for being homosexual, issue an apology and have a memorial for them.
3. A memorial plaque should be placed at Hillcrest Highschool in memory of George Blair Jr. for doing his civic duty despite knowing that he certainly would be fired.
Sincerely yours,
Edward H. Sebesta
CC: Edwin Flores, Dan Miccichie, Camile D. White, Dustin Marshall, Maxie Johnson, Joyce Foreman, Ben Mackey, Joe Carreón.
This is the link to the petition asking for the changes asked for in this letter. Please sign if you haven’t already.
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