Rochester Public Schools has contracts with LGBTQ organization AmazeWorks to provide middle school students with curriculum

Parents Defending Education (PDE) previously reported on an internal transgender policy used by staff at Rochester Public Schools. PDE sent a public records request to the district seeking contracts with organizations that provide LGBTQ training or consulting, any training to staff on LGBTQ issues, and emails from the superintendent and board members on LGBTQ issues. The district provided PDE with numerous documents in response to the request. The district charged PDE over $15,000 for the request.

PDE received two contracts for Kellogg Middle School within the district with the organization AmazeWorks. AmazeWorks is an organization that promotes “PRIDE resources” for children as young as toddlers on its website. The first contract was for $4,000 for a “Middle School Curriculum Year 1” that was to be paid by June 25, 2022. The second contract was for $3,500 for “Middle School Curriculum Year 2” that was to be paid by June 23, 2023.

AmazeWorks is an organization that promotes “PRIDE resources” for children as young as toddlers on its website. In a document titled “Understanding Gender Diversity,” the organization provides caregivers with lessons to help “guide conversations with children on gender diversity, including gender identity and expression.” The lessons include books like My Princess Boy and When Aidan Became a Brother. AmazeWorks describes My Princess Boy as a story “about a little boy who loves the color pink, sparkly things, and being a princess.” The organization describes When Aidan Became a Brother as about a girl who transitioned to being a boy. Both books are aimed at children as young as 4 years old.