Iowa high school says drag show was unapproved and under investigation after videos go viral online



Videos from a drag show performance at an Iowa high school went viral online on Tuesday, prompting the school to announce an investigation into the incident.

"The district has been made aware of an unauthorized performance that took place yesterday after school at Ankeny High School," read the statement from the school on Facebook.

"As a part of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Club’s end-of-the-year meeting, performers from the Central Iowa Youth Pride Pageant were invited to share a drag performance. While the GSA is an approved school club, this performance was not approved by the building administration and did not follow the correct protocols prior to the meeting," the statement continued.

"This performance was after school and localized to the students participating in the club. It was not approved by the building administration, and it is currently under investigation," it concluded.

Videos reportedly from the drag show were posted to the popular "Libs of TikTok" account and quickly went viral.

.@Ankeny_Hawks brought in drag queens to perform for students during school. The drag queens also spoke to students about gender identity and expression. pic.twitter.com/6PFv4QcIgx
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 24, 2022

The drag show was also documented at the Iowa Standard.

“Sometimes because of who I am I don’t really feel like I’m a man,” a performer reportedly told the students. “I don’t always feel like I am that like masculine figure everyone wants to see from someone that uses he/him pronouns."

One photograph from the event appears to show a student handing a dollar to the drag performer on stage.

"I feel like sometimes I do identify as a male. I feel like sometimes I’m more in the middle of the spectrum — not one or the other. That’s where I am right now," the performer continued.

That performer also reportedly told the students to contact them if they were confused about their gender.

The "Libs of TikTok" documented a similar event in April at a high school in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school apologized to parents and students and said the incident was under investigation.

Here's more about high school drag shows:

Online backlash grows over video of drag held at Lancaster County high schoolwww.youtube.com

Woke Arizona high school counselor, who helped organize drag show for students, arrested and accused of having sex with 15-year-old girl



A former Arizona high school counselor – who previously helped students organize a drag show – was arrested and accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl, according to police.

The Tucson Police Department's Child Sexual Assault Unit received a report of an inappropriate relationship between Zobella Brazil Vinik, 29, and a 15-year-old student at Tucson High Magnet School. At the time, Vinik was a counselor at Tucson High Magnet School. Authorities launched an investigation into the claims on May 3.

"On May 4th, 2022, detectives from the Tucson Police Department Sexual Assault Unit informed the administration of Tucson High Magnet School of an ongoing investigation into one of its counselors, Zobella Brazil Vinik," read a statement from Tucson Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo. "The administration was informed of an alleged inappropriate relationship between the counselor and a 15-year-old student from Tucson High."

On May 5, the school district put Vinik on administrative leave and initiated its own investigation. On the same day, Vinik resigned from her counselor position and is no longer an employee of the Tucson Unified School District.

On May 11, Vinik turned herself in to the police for the alleged charges of an inappropriate sexual relationship that occurred off-campus.

Vinik was charged with one count of sexual conduct with a minor, and was booked into the Pima County Jail.

KVOA reported, "TPD said Vinik's ex-wife told law enforcement officials that the couple have been allowing the 15-year-old to live with them in their home. She reported that the 29-year-old and the 15-year-old have been co-sleeping together and she recently found Vinik's 'underwear hidden under a pillow on the bed' the student had been sleeping in."

The Tucson-based news outlet also said that police seized cell phones through a search warrant, which "revealed inappropriate messages between the two that supports a sexual/romantic relationship."

The interim complaint stated that the female victim "confirmed she had a sexual relationship" with the high school counselor and "that the relationship turned sexual around February 2022."

Police said, "During the investigation, detectives found probable cause to arrest the school counselor."

Previously, Zobella oversaw the high school's "Q Space" afterschool program. The high school defines the Q Space club as a "space students will learn about LGBTQIA+ history, create community, and engage in individual and group work exploring identity and collaborating to discover community care and joy."

Zobella was reportedly involved in organizing the first-ever student drag show at Tucson High Magnet School that was scheduled for May 7.

"The counselors created an Instagram page for the drag show, which followed one other account, THMS counseling, which followed the account in return along with the THMS yearbook account. The counselors also invited students to access a “drag inquiry form” using their Microsoft Office student account," according to a report from the AZ Free Press that was published in March.

An Instagram post from the "tucsonhigh_drag" reads: "Are you ready to see an epic Drag Show?! We’re ready too. Q Space’s First Ever Drag Show at Tucson High will be on Saturday May 7th from 5-7pm. In anticipation, we’d love for you to meet some of our fabulous student performers."

Arizona school counselor who arranged drag show for students is accused of having sex with a 15 year-old studentpic.twitter.com/l2Q7AlZrGY
— Libs of TikTok (@Libs of TikTok) 1652596409

Zobella was previously a "community advocate" for the ScholarshipsA-Z organization – a self-described "Tucson-based immigrant youth-led organization that works to make higher education accessible to all students regardless of immigration status."

It appears that her very woke profile on Scholarships-Z has been wiped from the website. However, an archived version states that Zobella majored in Peace and Justice Studies with a minor in Latinx Studies at Tufts University. While in college, she "co-organized a campaign to make Tufts University accessible for undocumented students."

"Zobella joined the movement for immigrant justice during college where she co-organized a campaign to make Tufts University accessible for Undocumented students," the since-deleted profile reads.

Zobella is "working to unlearn practices maintained by white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy and recommits daily to prioritize mental health, community care, and visions for freedom offered by Queer BIPOC organizers."

Zobella's preferred pronouns are "She/Her/Ella."

Ex-Tucson High counselor arrested for alleged inappropriate relationship with 15-year-old www.youtube.com

VIDEO: Pennsylvania HS teacher hosted a drag show for students at 'Genders Sexualities Alliance' club and didn't notify parents



A teacher at a Pennsylvania high school hosted a drag show for students in the "Genders Sexualities Alliance" club after school hours and didn't notify parents or ask for permission slips.

The incident occurred at the Hempfield High School in Lancaster on Monday.

Video from the bizarre event surfaced on the popular "Libs of TikTok" account on Twitter:

A Pennsylvania teacher hosted a drag show event for students as part of the GSA club. Parents were reportedly not notified. The district has confirmed this morning that the teacher is on leave.pic.twitter.com/NSjkJELl6e
— Libs of TikTok (@Libs of TikTok) 1651267649

The event was announced at the school during regular hours, but parents were not notified prior to the event.

The Hempfield school district released a statement apologizing for the drag show.

"First and foremost, the administration team apologizes to students, parents, and the community on behalf of those involved in this event. We are appalled at what took place and in no way condone this type of activity in our schools. Neither the dress of the invited guests nor the performance was appropriate in our school setting," the statement read.

The statement went on to say that the incident was under investigation and that one person involved was on administrative leave, but they didn't identify that person.

"We commit to completing a thorough investigation and holding those involved accountable, up to and including disciplinary action that is commensurate with any findings," the district added.

A statement reportedly from the teacher on social media expressed her joy about the event and no regrets.

"I don't know how to explain the sheer joy I feel in my bones when these queens come take time out of their busy schedules to perform for us (year 3!) and to be with my students," read the statement. "As GSA co-advisor and a queer teacher, it makes me emotional to think of this space we have created — I would have loved nothing more than to have a space like they have, an opportunity to attend their own drag show."

Here's more about public school drag shows:

Deranged High School Puts On SICK Drag Show with Students | @Chad Pratherwww.youtube.com