KETTERING — There will be police officers at Kettering Fairmont High School Thursday after threats were made against the LGBTQ+ community.
The goal is to make everyone feel safe.
“It’s so unfortunate, I don’t know what kind of person can send a threat to children. What kind of person is that?” Michael Knote said.
Knote is the executive director of Have a Gay Day.
Brandon Moore is currently booked into Kettering City Jail after he allegedly made threats against LGBTQ+ people at Kettering Fairmount High School Wednesday morning.
Police said they tracked Moore down in Beavercreek and arrested him at his job.
They also said they will have extra patrol at the high school Thursday, something psychologist Adam Feiner thinks is a good idea.
“To have a call like that come in where someone’s threatening harm to anyone and in particular, a specific group as well, in an environment that should be safe, where one has a right to feel safe, turns that on its head,” Feiner said.
According to the Center for Disease Control, a study of youth in grades 7-12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers. One factor is linked to a hostile environment.
That’s why Feiner said acceptance matters.
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“Make sure that we know we let people know they are accepted, and they should be free to be themselves. And even though there are people like this that will wish some groups harm, that is not the norm,” Feiner said.
Knote agrees, and said now is the time to keep talking because hate keeps happening.
“There’s a lot of conversation right now when it comes to the LGBTQ+ communities and there’s a lot of misunderstanding, not as much education, and people are really emotional about it. Some people are trying to get reactions, some people are trying to be seen, and some people are just trying to keep their families safe and their kids safe from all of this,” Knote said.
News Center 7 reached out to the district who provided a statement that said in part:
“In the wake of the threatening phone call today and the increased media coverage regarding Fairmont’s 2023 Prom Court, KPD will continue to provide additional police officer coverage at the high school for the foreseeable future to assist SRO Spinks in assuring the safety of all. The safety and security of every one of our students and staff members are of paramount importance in the Kettering City Schools.”
We will continue following this story and update when new information is available.