FAD disassociates from NAD over LGBTQ law
The Florida Association of the Deaf (FAD) said in a letter and vlog on Saturday that it has voted to disassociate itself from the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and will not actively participate in the upcoming NAD Conference in Orlando because it is opposed to how the NAD took a position against a new Florida law that bans “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity… in kindergarten through grade 3.”
The bill was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on March 28. The law’s official name is “Parental Rights in Education” but LGBTQ activists and critics have called it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
On April 1, the NAD President Melissa Draganac-Hawk released a vlog to say she is excited about the NAD Conference but emphasized that the NAD is opposed to the “Don’t Say Gay” law and another Florida law banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools. The NAD said the new law is “terrible” and oppressive. Draganac-Hawk also said in the vlog that it had worked closely with the FAD and had a discussion on the law and stands in solidarity with “our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.”
A spokesperson for the FAD, Tim Wood, who is a former president, and its current president James Scott released a vlog to detail why they are opposed to the NAD’s position on the bill. Wood said the NAD, just like the media, has misrepresented the law by using the terms, “Don’t Say Gay” and joined in a “baseless national frenzy.” Scott said in the vlog that the NAD never notified them before making their vlog and that “they lied, and they made Florida look bad.”
The FAD letter, which was signed by Scott and the chairman of FAD’s Advisory Committee, Dr. Rickey A. McClain, said NAD has “compromised” the FAD’s relationship with the Florida governor’s office.
This is the recap of what is going on between the FAD and the NAD this week.
——
[Sponsored video from Convo: www.convorelay.com]
—--
[Advertisement from Disaster Distress Helpline] After a disaster, you may be at risk for emotional distress. Warning signs can include feeling isolated, anxious, having trouble sleeping and more. If you or someone you know is Deaf or hard of hearing, the Disaster Distress Helpline offers a direct videophone option.
This free service for ASL users is answered 24/7 by trained crisis workers fluent in ASL and can be accessed using any videophone-enabled device and dialing 1-800-985-5990 or at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov.]
——
[Advertisement from Deafopia: Deafopia is coming to San Jose, CA on April 30th! Where? The Plex at 800 Embedded Way, San Jose, CA 95138 from 10 AM - 5 PM, parking, admission and booths are free. Do you own a business or know someone that owns a business? This is your opportunity to promote your business at Deafopia for FREE.
Check out at www.deafopia.com for more information about our event!]
—-----------
It is important to note that on March 28, the day DeSantis signed the law banning teaching of sexual orientation and gender idenity in K-3rd grades, the NAD’s Youth Section (NADYS) and LGBT Section wrote a joint letter sent to Draganac-Hawk and NAD CEO Howard Rosenblum to raise concerns about the NAD hosting its conference in the state of Florida. I was able to read the letter, which urged the NAD to not proceed with the NAD Conference in Orlando because it would contribute to the Florida economy and in turn fund the Florida government. The letter also urged the NAD to take an active role in acknowledging “harmful legislation and discrimination happening in the state of Florida.”
This letter from the NADYS and LGBT Section preceded the NAD’s vlog on April 1st. We can see that the NAD was challenged to drop Orlando as a conference venue, but NAD chose to proceed with Orlando while making a statement on its opposition to the two Florida laws. That’s the timeline.
I had a conversation with a FAD member to ask what the process looked like within FAD in the time before the FAD issued its letter and vlog. This FAD member, who prefers to remain anonymous, said they were surprised to see the FAD letter and vlog. The person said FAD has mostly been quiet over the coronavirus pandemic but had a Zoom session a few months ago to hold an election, but that a few members showed up. The member said other FAD members said the same — that they were surprised by the letter and the vlog.
I reached out to the NAD and the FAD with several follow-up questions. I asked both organizations how much communication they had with each other before their respective vlogs and statements.
I have not yet received a response from the FAD.
Draganac-Hawk emailed a statement that said NAD would proceed with the conference and that FAD had a previous role in recruiting volunteers and the promotion of the conference. Here is the statement in full.
[FULL-SCREEN TEXT STATEMENT:
“The NAD’s response to the oppressive laws in Florida represented the NAD’s stance in support of civil rights for all people, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+.
In the part that addressed ongoing conference plans, the Florida Association of the Deaf (FAD) was mentioned in regards to their role in recruiting volunteers and promotion of the conference.
We remain committed to supporting the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community in Florida, including Deaf BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ folks.
The NAD Board and conference planning team are making every effort to ensure that all BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ conference attendees feel as welcome and safe as possible at our conference. The NAD will proceed with safeguards and plans to achieve this goal.
We welcome everyone and anyone that stands with the BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ deaf and hard of hearing communities to attend our conference this summer in Orlando, Florida.”]
That’s all the information I can share on this topic for now. You can view the links to the NAD vlog and the FAD vlog in the transcript.
NAD Vlog on April 1:
https://www.facebook.com/NAD1880/videos/514708640285755/
https://www.nad.org/2022/04/01/resisting-oppression-in-florida/
Tim Wood / FAD Vlog: