LGBTQ+ group unlikely to return to local high school campuses

After almost nine parents spoke out at the Western Placer Unified School District (WPUSD) board meeting May 2 against The Landing Spot being on district campuses, school board President April Nitsos said she didn't want them on campus "ever again." The Landing Spot is a support group for LGBTQ+ youth. Controversy about the group being on Western Placer Unified School District campuses started after a national group, Project Veritas, released a viral video March 19 that focused on The Landing Spot's leader, Casey Martinez-Tinnin. In the video, Tinnin-Martinez made statements such as "When they (parents) know that their queer kid is coming to me for support, they're going to be upset" and "I call CPS (Child Protective Services)" when parents misgender their kids." On the video, Tinnin-Martinez said "it's not lying but it's not fully telling the truth," when it comes to his conversations with parents. Tinnin is also the Loomis United Basin Congregational Church pastor. Tinnin said the video's content was "highly edited" and "taken out of context." On March 22, Western Placer Unified School District removed The Landing Spot from its campuses, along with Placer Union High School District and Roseville Joint Unified High School District. On April 4, Western Placer Unified School District announced that it was launching an investigation into The Landing Spot to see if any wrong-doing happened. "The investigation is currently in progress," said Western Placer Unified School District Superintendent Kerry Callahan last week. "We are uncertain when it will be complete but anticipate the next four to six weeks." Two weeks after the investigation announcement on April 18, an extended version of the Project Veritas video was released online. In the second-released video, Tinnin seemingly condemns parents who encourage their kids to wait until they're married to have sex. He also advocated for sexual exploration in youth and seemingly encouraged the use of pornography, which prompted those with opposing views to speak out again at the May 2 Western Placer Unified School District board meeting. Tinnin said that the second video was also taken the wrong way. "All of the comments are out of context and intended to paint me in a bad light," Tinnin told Gold Country Media last week. Tinnin said that he spoke with actors in the second recording, who posed as parents of LGBT children saying they were traumatized by "purity culture" within evangelical churches. Tinnin said they asked for his advice because of his experience within traditional churches. "Many of us grew up during the "love waits" movement," Tinnin said. "I walked away from the evangelical system 15 years ago but it continues to be toxic for the majority of people, especially women. Many were traumatized during that movement." Tinnin also talked about his stance on teens using pornography. "I don't condone it but I'm not going to pretend it doesn't exist. It is highly accessible," Tinnin said. "It's acceptable but dangerous. Instead of helping young people and giving them resources, we just tell them 'don't.' When we pretend they don't live in a world where all these things are happening all around them, we are setting them up for danger and harm." Tinnin said his name has been smeared. "I have worked hard with my congregation to create this safe place. It saddens me that we are using a highly-edited video to make me a villain in this community when I'm just trying to keep kids safe and families together." Tinnin said plenty of parents and organizations still support The Landing Spot, which further shows he's not guilty of any wrong-doing. Lincoln resident Mike Maldonado said he lost faith in Superintendent Callahan after she "promised to be transparent about the investigation process but failed to respond" to his public records request for the background checks done for Tinnin and other Landing Spot volunteers who were on campus. Callahan disagrees with his claims. "We have provided all documents requested under the Public Records Act. We do not create documents that do not exist and provide all that are within the subject of request," Callahan said. "If there are pieces of information redacted from a record released, it is because they are protected under the Public Records Act." A person who identified himself as Chris Baldwin at the May 2 meeting said he has students in the district. "We can argue about who the pastor is and who Project Veritas is but one thing that is irrefutable is that he asked kids to lie to parents," Baldwin said. "He's counseling kids on medical procedures and medicines without a parent available. I have a problem with that the same way I would if a cop questioned my kids without me or a lawyer. Or the way I would if a coach offered my kid a drug to perform better." Gold Country Media asked Callahan if a school official was always present when Tinnin or The Landing Spot was on campus. "Staff was always present on campus but not always directly in the room where students met with staff from the Landing Spot," Callahan said. "However, no single student was ever alone with a staff member from The Landing Spot." A parent who identified herself as Chrissy spoke against Tinnin at the May 2 Western Placer Unified School District meeting. "This isn't an attack on the LGBTQ community. This is about common sense," Chrissy said. " You claim there have been no reports of any harm done to anyone who was in Tinnin's care, and while I am relieved to hear that, I'm not ignorant to the fact that abused persons, especially children, aren't usually open about abuse." Also speaking out was former Rocklin City Council candidate and House of Oliver Wine and Lounge owner Matthew Oliver in Roseville. "Thank you for your bold stance in regards to Casey Tinnin," Oliver said to the board. "The Landing Spot and Casey Tinnin who was in our schools is a pervert and he should never be allowed on our school campuses again. He taught his own version of sexual education and encouraged children to masterbate." Placer County resident Alicia Watkins, who has spoken out multiple times about controversial issues, including The Landing Spot, at Roseville Unified Joint High School, Rocklin High School District and Western Placer Unified school board meetings, talked again May 2. Watkins spoke in favor of Tinnin and The Landing Spot. She called out a local group called Moms For Liberty (who were in attendance), Lincoln City Council member Holly Andreatta and Oliver, who she said played a role in the removal of The Landing Spot and were enablers of abuse. She accused them of being on the "same side of Nazis and fascism." Watkins said, "Denying children representation and curriculums and not preparing them for the future only sets them up for unnecessary pain. Allowing people with actual oppressive agendas to claim that equity, SEL (social-emotional learning), science and history are controversial or harmful are akin to the fascism and communism that nearly destroyed entire nations." "So when grandstanding politicians like Matthew Oliver lie to attack the LGBTQIA+ community and elected officials like Holly Andreatta support those lies while befriending actual sexual abuse enablers like Jim Jordan, you can see a familiar pattern begin to emerge. We must learn from history," Watkins added. Jim Jordan has served as the U.S. representative for Ohio's 4th Congressional District since 2007, according to congress.gov.In 2018, Richard Strauss, the sports doctor at Ohio State University while Jordan was the wrestling coach, allegedly took pictures of students while giving them unnecessary genital exams. Jordan was accused of knowing about the abuse. In an article published Feb 20, 2020 in The Hill, Jordan was quoted as saying, "The idea I'm not going to defend our athletes when I think they're being harmed is ridiculous," Jordan said after a suit was filed. "This is just — this is someone making a false statement." Lincoln Councilwoman Holly Andreatta recently attended a Capital-to-Capital event in Washington D.C where she met Jim Jordan. "I happened to run into him in Washington DC back in April. I spoke to him briefly and took a photo with him," Andreatta said. "Just because I take a photo with an elected official in D.C. doesn't mean that I'm completely aligned with them politically. I also took photos with Congressman Ami Bera and Doris Matsui." Gold Country Media asked Andreatta how she felt about Tinnin and The Landing Spot being on Western Placer Unified School District campuses. "I don't know Casey Tinnin personally but I saw the same video that everyone else has seen. Contrary to what some claim, the video was not edited for content," Andreatta said. "He clearly admitted to lying to parents, encouraging young people to lie to their parents, as well as discussing and encouraging many other inappropriate things. I don't believe he should be allowed on any campus." Andreatta added, "I've heard Alicia Watkins call me homophobic and transphobic. Let me be extremely clear here. I am not against LGBTQ students. As a Christian, a pastor and a leader in the community, I love all people. I want all students to feel safe and cared for. We may not always agree on specific issues but I'm in no way homophobic or transphobic." After the public made their comments at the May 2 school board meeting, Nitsos shared her stance. "We have heard about this at many meetings. I want to commend the wellness center that we already have in place," Nitsos said. "I also want to make sure we keep pursuing other resources, The Foundry, to ensure that we don't ever have Casey Tinnin on our campuses ever again." Callahan explained what The Foundry is. "The Foundry is the youth center here in Lincoln that provides a safe, supervised place for students to be after school and before parents get home from work," Callahan said. "Three to 6 p.m. is the most risky time for kids and The Foundry works to ensure students have a place to make good choices during that time window. While they are committed to providing a safe place for all students and connecting students to resources beyond what they provide, they do not specialize in providing support resources to the LGBTQ+ community." School board member Criste Freymond agreed with Nitsos. "I agree 100 percent but I want to make sure we have a licensed therapist or counselor for those kids. That is extremely important," Freymond said. "We don't want to leave any kid behind but I don't think Casey and the Landing Spot is right for our district." Board members Marjorie Proffitt and George Dykstra nodded 'yes' in agreement. Board member Jason Price was not at the meeting. Neighboring districts seem to be following suit behind Western Placer Unified School District. On May 16, Placer Union High School District (PUHSD) communications officer Sarah Rath said the district's stance on The Landing Spot has not changed since they're last statement nearly two months ago. On March 21, Placer Union High School District released a statement that read, "Although we have never received any complaints in regards to The Landing Spot being at student club meetings, PUHSD does not condone the message shared in the video. As a result, starting immediately, neither The Landing Spot nor their representative(s) will be allowed on our campuses based on the facts currently available." A walkout for students, parents, and community members to protest against Roseville Joint Unified High School district's decision to also remove The Landing Spot was held March 31. Gold Country Media reached out to Roseville Joint Unified High School District for an update, but has yet to receive a response.