According to her parents, 5-year-old girl was reportedly told she could no longer attend her kindergarten classes at a religious school due to her parents’ lifestyle choices. The school informed the student’s parents that they would have to find a new kindergarten school for their child. The school officials asked the parents to find their daughter a new school as their marriage did not adhere to the school’s teachings. During a meeting with a pastor and the school’s director, they were informed the couple would not be allowed to enroll their child for the new academic year. One of the parents reportedly said: “Because of our lifestyle choices, we were told we would not be a good fit for the school.”
The Bible Baptist Academy in Louisiana, informed Zoey Parker’s parents, Emily and Jennie Parker, that they would have to find a new kindergarten school for their child. This took place only two days before the academic year was set to begin. Last year, Zoey attended pre-school at the school, where she had many friends and loved her teachers. Emily, Zoey’s biological aunt, adopted her two years ago when her father died at 22 following an accident at his job in September 2020, NBC News reports.
According to the Parkers, the Bible Baptist Academy asked them to find their daughter a new school as their marriage did not adhere to the school’s teachings. During a meeting with a pastor and the school’s director, they were informed the couple would not be allowed to enroll their child for the new academic year. Jennie shared, “Because of our ‘lifestyle choices,’ [we were told] we would not be a good fit for the school.”
Emily added that the pastor told her Bible Baptist Academy was a religious-based institution that taught more than just academics. He reportedly explained to her that marriage is between a man and a woman only, which is what was taught at the school. The meeting was held only two days ahead of the new school year.
Although no one commented on the incident, a statement was posted on the school website. “At BBA, we are committed to instructing and living in accordance with the teachings of Scripture,” the statement reads. “We believe that the Bible teaches that every life has value and that there is dignity in all of us because we have been created in the image of God. The Bible also teaches us to love everyone with the love of God despite their personal choices. We strive to teach this to the students who attend. We encourage them to show love and compassion to everyone.”
It continues, “As a Baptist academy, we are also committed to [providing] an environment that is consistent with the beliefs that we hold. We want our students to not only know our beliefs, but we want them to see them as well. Regarding personal relationships, we hold that those relationships, whether in dating or in marriage, should be between a man and a woman.” The school also claimed that their actions should not be interpreted as “hatred or malice” towards those who hold different values.