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A little girl was expelled by her Christian school after she was adopted by a same-sex couple. The school said they couldn’t accept her guardians’ “lifestyle choices.”
Emily and Jennie Parker received a call at the start of the month from their new 5-year-old daughter’s school, Bible Baptist Academy in DeQuincy, Louisiana who informed them that they would need to find another school.
The story was shared by the couple on their Facebook page.
\u201cKindergartner in Louisiana allegedly forced out of school because her parents are a same-sex couple.\n\nZoey Parker, 5, could not attend the Bible Baptist Academy in DeQuincy because of "lifestyle choices" made by Emily and Jennie Parker, they said.\n\nhttps://t.co/jGrsvZs1rn\u201d— \u24c2\ufe0f\u24c2\ufe0f Lauren Ash Davis - OG Meidas Mighty \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b\u262e\ufe0f (@\u24c2\ufe0f\u24c2\ufe0f Lauren Ash Davis - OG Meidas Mighty \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b\u262e\ufe0f) 1660190854
The child, Zoey, lost her dad in an industrial accident. Luckily, her biological aunt and her wife adopted her to keep the family together.
Before being adopted, Zoey attended pre-k classes at the Baptist Academy. After she was adopted by Emily and Jennie, a pastor from the school called the couple to say she was no longer welcome, since her guardians are in a same-sex relationship.
Emily says they were contacted only two days before school started to be given the bad news.
\u201cThis makes no sense. Why can't the baby attend the school? I mean I know lots of kids growing up who were not Catholics, but went to Catholic school. I'm sorry to see this.\u201d— Sophia A. Nelson (@Sophia A. Nelson) 1660181687
\u201cIn DeQuincy, Louisiana, four-year-old Zoey Parker was kicked out of a pre-K class she loved at Bible Baptist Academy because her devoted parents are both women.\n\nIt is indeed a profound mystery why more and more Americans are turning away from religion.\u201d— Victor Laszlo (@Victor Laszlo) 1660417200
\u201cA Louisiana 5-year-old, Zoey Parker, was kicked out of her kindergarten class at Bible Baptist Academy because her parents, Emily & Jennie Parker, are a same-sex couple. The Parkers recently adopted Zoey, who is Jennie\u2019s niece, after her father died September 2020.\n\n\ud83e\udd2c\ud83d\udc94\ud83e\udd2c\ud83d\udc94\ud83e\udd2c\u201d— @297_Aruba_Lover (@@297_Aruba_Lover) 1660233001
\u201cNow they\u2019re punishing 5 yr olds. \ud83e\udd2c\u201d— Judith Friday (@Judith Friday) 1660204357
\u201c@TODAYshow School's loss, Zoe's gain. Why would you want to go to school with ignorant bigots?\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1660181408
\u201c@guardian The school stated: \u201cWe want our students to not only know our beliefs, but we want them to see them as well.\u201d\n\nWell they accomplished their mission; they made it clear, they are bigots!\nPlease let us know when they expel children whose parents are adulterers or racists or\u2026\u201d— The Guardian (@The Guardian) 1660230871
This was heartbreaking to the family, as Zoey had built up friendships with other students and teachers at the academy.
Emily said:
“My child has lost so much. Her mother, her father, her whole life has been wrenched away before her 5th birthday. And now… her education, her friends, and her teachings of the God that she loves and I support.”
“Look at this girl and tell me you would judge her Bc of her parents choices...”
Their story has people up in arms over the ban. They feel that the school is being hypocritical with their decision.
In response, the Bible Baptist Academy released a statement explaining their position.
It reads:
“As a Baptist academy, we are also committed to provide an environment that is consistent with the beliefs that we hold. We want our students to not only know our beliefs, but we want them to see them as well.”
“Regarding personal relationships, we hold that those relationships, whether in dating or in marriage, should be between a man and a woman.”
However, people weren’t convinced.
\u201c@guardian No hate quite like "Christian love"\u201d— The Guardian (@The Guardian) 1660230871
\u201c@RawStory Solid christian love of others, right there\u201d— Raw Story (@Raw Story) 1660310120
\u201c@TODAYshow Will the school apply that same rule to parents who are divorced?\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1660181408
\u201cGuess what religion is punishing a child because it doesn\u2019t like the parents\u2019 choices\u201d— James Karst (@James Karst) 1660321907
\u201c@copybot @guardian The bible has turn the other cheek and an eye for an eye, you can always find something to support your personal bigotry in there.\u201d— The Guardian (@The Guardian) 1660230871
\u201cI wonder what religion they think they're practicing at the Bible Baptist Academy in DeQuincy, LA? It certainly has nothing to do with the teachings of the compassionate Jesus. It's more like the opposite. https://t.co/AbWVEmi4wD\u201d— Steve Silberman (@Steve Silberman) 1660238193
The family has been able to find other accommodations. Zoey is attending a different Christian school and Emily excitedly shared pictures of her first day.
In the meantime, people are still calling out Bible Baptist Academy for their backwards thinking.