When gubernatorial candidate Tim James included footage of a faculty drag show at the Magic City Acceptance Academy in one of his campaign commercials, the school and its advocates pointed to it as evidence of widespread hate and bigotry.
The ensuing national media coverage portrayed James' pledge to shut down the school as an attack on the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, ignoring the underlying concerns about the school's learning environment and agenda.
In the years since, legislators have turned a blind eye to the school in Homewood, allowing a radical LGBTQ+ and DEI agenda to be sold as a perk of the publicly funded school that caters to students in grades 6-12.
That changed this year, as lawmakers began publicly questioning the school's compliance with state and federal laws. Specifically, the state's divisive concepts law passed last session. It went into effect October 2024, and several of President Donald Trump's executive orders, one of which addresses DEIand another of which addresses radical indoctrination in schools.
Until recently, all media reports related to the school, the school's website and social media pages touted itself as an LGBTQ+ affirming environment. That language has since been deleted.
References to their DEI commitment—published after the state ban went into effect and remaining on the school's website until recently—have also been removed.
The DEI issue got the attention of State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who told Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show" that "it's boiled over to a point where we can't ignore it. I would predict that we'll take some form of action in the '25 session."
"Classrooms have always been devoted to what has traditionally been called the 'Three Rs' — reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic — but there are some educators who want to add a fourth R to the classroom, and that's radicalism," State Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) told 1819 News in discussing why he brought HB 244 back this year which would strengthen the states existing ban on ideology in the classroom. The bill is expected to get a committee hearing this month.
An examination of the school's recent guests clearly shows that reading, writing and arithmetic aren't the only topics on the list of the MCAA administration's priorities.
1. Flap Jack the Drag Queen
"This morning, I had the pleasure of speaking to students in Fashion Club at the Magic City Acceptance Academy about my journey with drag fashion! We touched on the history of camp drag fashion (including some talent show highlights from Camp Wannakiki), dissected what makes a successful statement piece in a look, reviewed how to make garments sustainably, and discussed step-by-step how I made my Flap Jack in the Box gown. It's always a great day when I can combine my passions for drag and education!" Drag Queen Flap Jack wrote on Facebook.
2. Robert Garofalo, a pediatrician who started one of the nation's first "gender clinics" in July 2013
Garofalo treats patients ages four to 18. According to afeature story in Chicago Magazine, Garofalo has had patients as young as 15 have double mastectomy, and he has used medications he knows will sterilize a child in their early teens.
"This week, @garofalorobert read excerpts from When Dogs Heal to the 6th-grade students at Magic City Acceptance Academy LGBTQA Charter School in Birmingham, AL — one of 11 funding recipients from Fred Says for 2024.
This World AIDS Day, the Fred Says Foundation awarded $215,000 to support pet therapy and adoption programs, specialized mental health and drop-in services, transportation and housing assistance, peer-led support for transgender and HIV+ youth, and HIV-prevention efforts in the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa."
3. The Intrafaith Alliance of Central Alabama
"Today, we had the distinct pleasure of getting to deliver the books from our book drive to Magic City Acceptance Academy! All of these 83+ books were selected by clergy from many faith traditions," a post on the school's Facebook stated.
"We wanted the MCAA library to include spiritual texts affirming our LGBTQIA+ students so that they know, whatever their faith tradition, that they are loved and included. And we included some fun ones as well.
"Thank you to all who donated, delivered, or shared books, and especially to the Community Foundation of Birmingham, for making this possible!
"Our delivery crew was: Rev Jennifer Sanders from Beloved Community Church, Rev Paul Eknes-Tucker from Pilgrim UCC, Rev. Robin Blakemore and Dixon Hollingsworth from First Christian Church, Rev. Joe Genau and Ann Ray from Edgewood Presbyterian, and Rev. Julie Conrady from the Unitarian Universalist Church."
Among the books given to the school were: "You Know, Sex," which is by the same author as thegraphic novel "Sex is a Funny Word," "Gender Queer,"which also portrays explicit sex acts, "Homosexuality in Islam," Rise Up! How you can join the fight against white supremacy," "Gender Identity Workbook for Teens," "Becoming Eve," "You know, Sex," "Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints," and "Beyond the Gender Binary."
4. Birmingham Aids Outreach
With one presenter wearing a "Trans rights are human rights" sweatshirt, the Birmingham Aids Outreach presented STI 101 to students.
While it is unclear if the group amended its presentation to be age-appropriate for students, the FAQ on their website notes, "Abstinence is the only real form of 'safe sex,' but we use the term 'Safer' Sex. Safer sex is any means of enjoying sex to the fullest without transmitting or acquiring any sexually related infections. Safer sex does not mean eliminating sexual passion and intimacy from your life. It just means that you have to be aware of the risk and use the tools available to reduce the risk to a level that both you and your partner feel comfortable with.
Safer sex includes using latex, plastic, or internal condoms every time you have oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Safer sex also includes frequent testing for STIs. Knowing your STI status is powerful and helps you get treatment, as well as prevent spreading STIs."
Looking at the totality of materials recently released by 1819 News, State Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville), the original sponsor for the state's "divisive concepts" bill, which was reintroduced by State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road), strengthened, passed and signed into law in 2024, said, "It's not only not trying to hide it; it's their selling point," he told 1819 News.
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) recently said on "1819 News: The Podcast," "This is one of those things that year after year, you just scratch your head and go, what are we doing here with state dollars? I'm confused."
Apryl Marie Fogel is a Birmingham resident who frequently appears on and guest hosts radio programs around the state. She can be reached at [emailprotected] or on X and Facebook at @aprylmarie.
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