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Amanda Wood

Sophia Galvin Testifies at Miami-Dade County Public School Board - Video


Rainbow Redemption Project founder Sophia Galvin testifies against item H11 at the Miami Dade County Public School board.

On September 7th, 2022 the Miami Dade County Public School board held a meeting to discuss item H11, which proposed an LGBTQ history month across district schools. Sophia Galvin, a former MDCPS student and founder of the Rainbow Redemption Project, publicly testified against this proposal. Ms. Galvin also sent a detailed open-letter to the school board prior to the meeting. She believes that similar school activities had influenced her decision to identify as transgender and later pursue medical transition. Additionally, she asserts that an LGBTQ history month violates freedom of expression and has an inappropriate psychological impact on impressionable teenagers. After hours of public commentary, the school board agreed with both Ms. Galvin and the majority sentiment of the community. Item H11 was rejected in an 8-1 vote.

The item’s sponsor, Ms. Lucia Baez-Gellar, argued the history month would serve to recognize that “LGBTQ individuals have made and continue to make lasting contributions to strengthen the fabric of American society.” Her proposed actions mandated the inclusion of two gay-rights Supreme Court cases (Obergefell v. Hodges [2015] and Bostock v. Clayton County [2020]) in the 12th grade curriculum. Secondly, Baez-Gellar suggested implementing “policies and practices… that respect and support LGBTQ students and their families throughout the school year.”

Ms. Galvin, along with her Miami Dade county community members, found this phraseology to be too vague. The lack of clarity of such “policies and practices” reminded her of inappropriate pro-LGBTQ education she had received in her freshman year. In 2014, a gender therapist was invited to her high school to host a presentation on gender identity. Ms. Galvin and her fellow students were instructed that they may have a true “gender identity” apart from their birth sex. They were encouraged to explore this identity, and informed about the options of social and medical gender transition.

A mandatory LGBTQ history month raised concerns for Sophia in light of that experience. It seemed unclear what would be introduced on campus, and jeopardized the rights of students to question these views in compliance with MDCPS Policy 2240: “Controversial Issues And Student Expression.




In an 8-1 vote against the proposal, item H11 was rejected. The school board cited a variety of reasons, including potential violations of both policy 2240 and Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act. School board officials also stated their responsibility was to vote in accordance with the vocal disapproval from parents and community members.

Rainbow Redemption Project was very happy to see an overwhelming rejection of LGBTQ indoctrination. We fundamentally believe that the ideology surrounding gender identity is spiritual and philosophical, not scientific. The claim that a biological woman can identify as male is a subjective, cultural idea. It cannot be fairly taught in schools without equal representation of opposing perspectives. If it is appropriate to instruct students in this way, they must also be allowed to hear that God created human beings as male and female. If many of us had heard this truth in schools, as opposed to only hearing one side, we may have made radically different life decisions.

Moving forward, we also plan to be involved in more public hearings regarding LGBTQ topics in schools, governments, and workplaces. It is vitally important to represent a Christ-centered view of this issue that features the voices of the ex-LGBTQ community. We want to provide guidance from the experiences of those who have stepped away from that community, which is often missing on both sides of this polarized issue. We also want to make known that this is an issue of human identity, and the solution remains in faith in Jesus Christ alone.

If you would like to read Sophia’s full open letter to the Miami Dade County Public School system, you can do so here.


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charm637
Apr 30, 2023

I wish she hadn’t interrupted you while you were speaking :( your words were so valuable!!

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Thomas S McEwen
Thomas S McEwen
Feb 16, 2023

Thank you Sophia, I pray for you to have strength in this uphill battle. It is refreshing to see your boldness to address the heart of the matter, because you went through it, and can see the façade for what it is pure lies that never address the heart of the issue. Surgery’s and medication did not bring the hope that it promised. Blessings to you in your journey to wholeness as the woman you were created to be!

with love and care

Thomas

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April McMillan
April McMillan
Dec 16, 2022

I heard Sophia's story on the Relatable podcast, and found it not only moving, but valuable and enlightening. I think everyone who follows Christ should listen to that show, and read both the letters on this website for de-transitioners and those who love them. These are so well written, and help us understand how to think about this issue, and even more importantly, how to respond in our interactions with others around what we see and hear today. I am very thankful that this ministry exists and I plan to keep you all in prayer; what this organization is setting out to do is critical and immeasurable. May Yah, the Father in heaven, pour out abundant grace on all of…

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hansviertel
Dec 03, 2022

I pray for your ministry every day. Your message is the hope of your generation. Stay the course. Abide in Christ.

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Eliza Kaskow
Eliza Kaskow
Oct 02, 2022

Sophia! You are an inspiration! I pray to God that your joy and strength in Him never goes away! thank you so much for all that you do!

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