Pride flag in Zionsville classroom sparks backlash on social media, legality concerns unclear

Indianapolis Star

11 hours ago

A social media post making its way around X and Facebook shows a pride flag hanging inside Zionsville middle school classroom, with the poster calling the display 'PridePaganda.'
The account labeled 'HoosierTruth' is run by a conservative radio talk show host Bud Wirey, who said in the post: 'Our children's schools should not have PridePaganda in the classrooms.' Along with the photos, Wirey tagged Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, Sen. Todd Young and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.
One photo in the post appears to show the classroom of Rachel Beier, an art teacher at Zionsville West Middle School, who has a sign hanging outside her door with rainbow coloring with the words 'safe zone' on it.
There is also a second photo in the post that shows a pride flag hanging in a classroom, although it is not clear if that is also Beier's classroom.
Beier could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.
Wirey told IndyStar via another of his Facebook accounts dubbed "The Shop" that the pictures were sent to him from a parent who wishes to remain anonymous for "fear of repercussions towards their child." He declined a phone interview on the topic.
Zionsville Superintendent Rebecca Coffman told IndyStar that the district has a goal to make sure everyone in their community feels welcomed at school.
'For nearly a decade, we have collaborated with families in our community to ensure that the students in our schools are striving to be Strong in Every Way,' Coffman said in an email. 'As part of that district focus, our students created a statement to be reflected in our schools and in our community. In ZCS, everyone belongs.'
When asked by IndyStar if the attorney general's office plans to pursue any legal or disciplinary action against the district, school or teacher, a representative said those questions would be better suited for Zionsville's school board and the Indiana Department of Education.
A spokesperson at the Indiana Department of Education said it encourages local school districts to deal with these kinds of situations whenever possible.
"The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) maintains statutory authority over teacher licensing and discipline matters, investigates complaints received, and files appropriate proceedings seeking teacher discipline when permitted under Indiana law," said Courtney Crown, deputy director of communications for the department. "While those matters vary in subject matter and content, IDOE seeks to substantiate all complaints it receives and assure state and federal laws are followed."
The Zionsville School board had not responded to IndyStar's questions by the time of publication.
Rokita's office did point to his "Eyes on Education" portal, which allows anyone to send in posts or materials found in schools or about curriculum that they find "objectionable." The portal is meant to help Hoosiers become aware of what is taught in schools and to inform voters, said Josh DeFonce, the communications director for the attorney general's office.
"The Eyes on Education portal is not intended to trigger legal action against local schools and the Attorney General's Office does not evaluate submissions for possible legal violations," DeFonce told IndyStar.
However, at the top of the submissions page for the Eyes on Education portal, it says, "The Office of the Attorney General will follow up on materials submitted to the portal that may violate Indiana law using our investigative tools, including public records requests, and publish findings on the portal as well."
No Indiana law has explicitly outlawed the hanging of certain flags or other classroom decorations, but laws passed in recent years were meant to have more of a chilling effect on what is taught and said in schools.
In Rokita's own 'Parents' Bill of Rights,' which explains various topics of Indiana's education policy, it does not mention anything about hanging pride flags or signs for LGBTQ youth being against Indiana law.
This year, the Indiana General Assembly approved SB 289, which prohibits diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in publicly-funded schools or government entities, opening the door for anyone to sue them if they are found in violation.
Other bills, like HB 1608, passed in 2023, require school administrators to tell parents if their child requests a change of their name, title, or pronoun. Many dubbed it the 'don't say gay' bill and caused an uproar among many Hoosier families, who called it an unnecessary bill that could endanger LGBTQ youth.
Zionsville's certified employee and central office staff handbook also does not mention any policy prohibiting pride flags or any other flags from being hung up in classrooms.
This also isn't the first time Zionsville schools has come under pressure from Rokita's office.
Rokita posted on his office's Facebook page a photo that allegedly shows the entryway of a Zionsville classroom that displays a pride flag with the words 'You are welcome here.'
The post caption says, 'Is this what Hoosier taxpayers expect in their middle school math class? Parents in Zionsville are tired of the woke propaganda.'
There are also multiple comments in that Facebook post claiming they are Zionsville parents or alumni who are praising the school for being a safe place for LGBTQ youth.
Other Indiana schools have faced similar flag scandals.
In 2021 Pendleton Heights High School students protested a move by their principal who enacted a policy to remove pride flags from classrooms.
In April 2025, a parent of a Decatur Township student was facing charges after showing up to school with a firearm and sending threatening messages to a teacher after accusing the teacher of pushing LGBTQ topics onto their child.