School board causes viral online debate

Dartmouth High School has gone viral from here to the United Kingdom after students in the  Gay Straight Alliance club created a board that said “Have a Gay Summer,” stirring questions on whether the board is a pun on the double meaning of the word “gay,” or if it’s pushing an agenda. 

The statement “Have a Gay Summer,” could be a pun on the double meaning of the word “gay,” which can mean “happy” or “not straight.” The sign has rainbows, pride flags and quotes from famous queer people. The board also has sticky notes with positive affirmations like “You are a star” and “You are wonderful.”

The GSA club advisor couldn’t be reached for comment due to summer vacation.

The board was posted on a Facebook page, “Dartmouth Helping Dartmouth- Uncensored” by parent Lynne Turner on June 15. The post received hundreds of comments, both in favor and against the board.

The post reached national attention after being posted by “Libs of TikTok,” reaching 1,100 likes and over 570 comments. The account has 417,000 followers on Facebook. Other notable publications were PinkNews, with 1.3 million followers, and The Advocate, with 520,000 followers. 

“I will also add that I think my post resonated and went viral across the country, because many people have had enough of the adult-sponsored LGBTQ+ agenda being pushed on our impressionable/minor youth in our public schools,” said Turner. 

Andrew Pollack, the director of the Southcoast LGBTQ+ Network, said he thinks “...it’s important for this minority to have a safe space, affirming space, and a place where they can feel at home, especially as they’re coming to terms with their sexuality.”

According to the 2025 study “The Experiences of LGBTQ Americans Today” published by the Pew Research Center, 71% of queer kids knew they were not straight before age 14. 

According to the Gallup article “LGBTQ+ Identification in U.S. Now at 7.6%,” almost 8% of adults identify as LGBTQ+. 

Comments online were mixed. Some comments stated that the board was discriminatory toward straight people, sexualizing children or tempting lonely kids to become gay for friends. Others called for staff members to be fired for refusing to take it down or threatened to burn or rip down the board.

The board was designed and put up by the high school’s Gay Straight Alliance, with guidance and permission from an adult club advisor. Because of this, High School Principal Ryan Shea could not remove the board. 

Shea couldn’t be reached for comment.

On the other side, some comments supported the board, stating that kids know by high school whether they are straight. Some stated those who disliked the board have “hate in their hearts.”

“I don’t think grooming is a good term for it,” said Pollack. “I think it’s acceptance of a minority.”

He added, “[Grooming] implies sexual predation and some other term that this has nothing to do with.”

Under the federal Equal Access Law, public schools that allow clubs must allow a GSA club to exist. The Dartmouth Schools Student Handbook states that the district doesn’t allow discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

“This message is NOT inclusive, it is suggesting their gay orientation for everyone, or for "gay" acts to occur over summer,” said Turner in her Facebook post.

Pollack gave the example that when people make jokes for Saint Patrick’s Day, they are not encouraging everyone to be Irish. 

“I don’t think there’s anything that in printed material that will turn someone gay,” he said.

School ended a couple weeks after the board was posted, on June 23.

“It’s important for them to be who they are and be affirmed and to be supportive,” said Pollack.