Hate group protests new wellbeing centers at high schools

Arthur Schaper, the California Mass Resistance field director, touted unsupported claims about the John Glenn and Southeast Academy High School Wellbeing Center during an NLMUSD board meeting on June 26. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

NORWALK - The Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District board of education listened as Arthur Schaper, the California MassResistance field director, expressed unfounded claims about the John Glenn and Southeast Academy High School Wellbeing Center.

“These wellbeing centers, your staff, have been trained by Planned Parenthood,” Schaper said. “You have these counselors who teach kids they can change their sex like flipping a switch, it’s unacceptable.”

California MassResistance, an organization the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled a hate group, arrived at the Norwalk La - Mirada Unified School District board meeting on June 26 to oppose the Wellbeing Center and called for its removal.

The organization spread the unfounded claim on social media that Planned Parenthood trained the staff at the center. Schaper claimed, without evidence, that Planned Parenthood pushes an agenda of “sex mutilation” on students and influences them to become transgender.

The Torrance resident continued to call the LGBTQIA+ ideology a “cult and an illness,” as his California MassResistance supporters applauded. Schaper also accused the school board of hiding information on the center from parents and vowed to go door-to-door to spread his beliefs to the community.

NLMUSD superintendent, John Lopez, explained the district addressed most of MassResistance’s concerns of the Wellbeing Center with a fact sheet of frequently asked questions in February.

“The Wellbeing Center was approved by the board of education in 2019,” Lopez said. “They talked to the community members of John Glenn and got an intake of services they wanted.”

The services provided through the center are student-initiated, according to the FAQ. Students are reminded to include parents in their care, as expressed in the district’s memorandum of understanding with the LACDPH.

A minor may consent to medical care related to contraception, the prevention, or the treatment of pregnancy without parental consent, according to Cal. Family Code § 6925.

The superintendent emphasized that Planned Parenthood is not involved with the Wellbeing Center, after the board voted against the Planned Parenthood component in August 2022.

Wellbeing Center staff are trained by the Los Angeles County Department of public health.

Lopez was confused about how Schaper and MassResistance tied LGBTQIA+ into the Wellbeing Center.

“It’s disappointing that we have an opportunity to help our community by giving them resources they need and groups are putting a spin on things that aren’t happening,” Lopez said. “LGBTQIA+ wasn’t even addressed in any of our frequently asked questions because that never came up until now.”

The Wellbeing Center provides health education, information about substance abuse, mental health and stress reduction groups. Masters Level Health Educators from the LACDPH are present to support students, teach sexual health and provide sexually active young people with counseling, according to the FAQ.

A registered nurse is also available for on-site testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, condoms, over-the-counter emergency contraception, pregnancy tests and sexual health information for students.

The FAQ emphasizes that parents can also utilize the Wellbeing Center. Classes at the center teach parents about teen health, how to discuss alcohol and drugs with their child and how to effectively explain sexual decision-making.

Statistics from the LACDPH were referenced in the FAQ as the district illustrated the necessity for a Wellbeing Center.

Approximately 21.4% of high school students in LA County currently drink alcohol. Among sexually active students, one in five drank alcohol or used drugs before their last sexual intercourse, according to the LACDPH.

In LA County, approximately 45.3% of high schoolers felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks, and 26.6% seriously considered attempting suicide.

Among high school students in the county, approximately 28% reported having sex and 20% are sexually active. LACDPH reported 44% of sexually active students did not use a condom last time and 78% are not using birth control.

Despite his lack of evidence, Schaper called the fact sheet “baloney.” Supporters continued expressing opposition to Planned Parenthood and transgender people during public comments.

Brenda Lebsack, a pastor at the Assembly of God church in Norwalk, alleged she used a Planned Parenthood chat number and pretended to be a child confused about her gender.

“They took me to a site that talked about puberty blockers, saying that if you’re confused about your gender, don’t worry, because the Q in LGBTQ means queer or questioning,” Lebsack said.

The pastor accused Planned Parenthood of promoting sexual pleasures to children. However, she was referring to the Planned Parenthood glossary, where the definitions of such words must be looked for and searched.

As Schaper said California MassResistance would return to the district to oppose the Wellbeing Center, Lopez encouraged community members to navigate the district website for accurate information.

“We encourage parents to get in touch with their school principals or district staff and we’ll provide them the information,” Lopez said. “We’ll send out information as well and reach out to our community.”