1 Texas School Board Member Under Fire After Controversial Post

One repost on social media caused major backfires for one Texas school board member. 

A school board member in Victoria, Texas shared a post on her Facebook page causing instant outrage. What looks like a simple repost turned into a huge ordeal online. Community members began sharing and commenting on the now-deleted post. 

The board member, BJ Nelson shared a post from the fast food chain Chipotle describing it as "Terrible." Her comment was directed at Chipotle's recent announcement about teaming up with The Trevor Project.

WHAT IS THE TREVOR PROJECT?

If you are unfamiliar with The Trevor Project, it is a nonprofit organization whose mission is "To end suicide among LGBTQ young people." The organization offers crisis services 24/7, 365 days a year. 

"Crisis counselors are trained to answer calls, chats, or texts from LGBTQ young people who reach out on our free, confidential, and secure 24/7 service when they are struggling with issues such as coming out, LGBTQ identity, depression, and suicide."

COMMUNITY MEMBERS DISGUSTED BY THE POST

The VISD board member's post began circulating online and members in the community expressed major concerns. 

Community member, Angelica Estrada-Knickerbocker expressed her concerns about the post made by Nelson, "When your an official and your going to be for the children, then you should be for all the children." Knickerbocker fears the board member may only support children whose beliefs line up with her own.

Before the post was deleted it amassed major backlash as parents in the area felt the board member was wrong for posting that content to her official VISD board member page. Knickerbocker explained, "It's one thing to post on your personal page, but it's wrong to post that type of content to an official public page."

VISD SCHOOL BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT

Coincidently, the VISD board announced it will be meeting at noon Wednesday regarding the resignation of a board member. It is unclear whether the two issues are related however,  VISD school board president, Mike Mercer expressed that, "Any content shared by an individual trustee on their trustee-managed platforms should not be construed as the district's or the Board's official policies or positions. 

If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.