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Issue: Sex + Gender

IWN’s Stephanie Lundquist-Arora Takes to the Airwaves Against Woke “Women’s History Month” Display

Posted on by IWN Media Team

National outrage is growing over an obscene Women’s History Month display in Fairfax County, Virginia, and an Independent Women’s Network chapter leader is leading the charge to take it down.

Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a mother of a West Springfield High School student, and an author, and she is fighting back against the Fairfax County Public Schools’ decision to allow a woke alphabet display for Women’s History Month, which promoted content about abortion, “transgenderism,” and “queerness.” 

Lundquist-Arora has been speaking out for years to expose the inappropriate ideology that has crept into classrooms across the country. Her latest op-ed in The Daily Signal highlights the woke “ABCs to Me” display her son encountered at his Fairfax County high school.

Following an appearance on Fox News’s Ingraham Angle, Lundquist-Arora took to the airwaves again the next day to discuss the controversial display at her son’s school. She first joined WMAL’s O’Connor and Company, and later Salem Radio Network’s Chris Stigall Show.

On WMAL, Lundquist-Arora told host Larry O’Connor, and Independent Women’s Network Director Julie Gunlock, “Instead of ‘A is for Apple,’ or even if it’s for Women’s History Month, instead of A being for aviator, Amelia Earhart, they just start out with, ‘A is for abortion.”

Lundquist-Arora’s son and his friends were the first to take photos of the display. The “A” card featured a coathanger and a positive pregnancy test. Other cards included “H is for Hope” featuring Kamala Harris, “J is for Justice” with the Palestinian flag, and “T is for Trans Women.”

Another student tore down the “A is for Abortion” card, and was sent to the principal’s office, where the card was subsequently replaced.

“All Americans who value a solid fundamental education for our kids should object to this,” Lundquist-Arora said on O’Connor & Company.

The high school claims the display was a student-run project, but according to the West Springfield High School website, it was led by the same teacher who oversees the Democratic Socialists of America Club, and the Young Democrats Club.

Lundquist-Arora also joined Chris Stigall on Salem Radio Network to discuss the latest on what is on display at her son’s high school.

Thanks to Lundquist-Arora’s activism in exposing this pervasive ideological display, parental rights leaders are condemning the anti-woman “ABCs” mural.

As of 9:00 a.m. on March 20, the project still hangs on the wall, but thanks to Lundquist-Arora and the work of Independent Women’s Network, the Fairfax County high school display has become national news.


If you would like to make your voice heard, support fundamental education for our nation’s children, and purge the politicized rot from our public schools’ classrooms and hallways, please take action here.

‘A Is for Abortion’: Public High School Teaches ABCs for Women’s History Month

Posted on by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora

This op-ed was written by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora, a mother in Fairfax County, an author, and a member of Independent Women’s Network. Originally appeared in The Daily Signal.

America’s public high schools are strange places to find displays of the alphabet. Perhaps with plummeting standardized test scores and a substantial increase in English-as-a-second-language students in sanctuary districts, high school educators feel the need to review kindergarten basics. In Fairfax County, Virginia’s West Springfield High School, located just 17 miles from the White House, school administrators and teachers have decorated the history hallway this month with a special, leftist rendition of the alphabet.

The display, titled “The ABCs to ME,” is decorated with the school’s colors: a blue background lined with an orange border. Featured in the display is a sign that reads, “A is for Abortion” with an image of a coat hanger with a positive pregnancy test.

(Stephanie Lundquist-Arora)

A description of the display says that it is being posted for Women’s History Month, which is March, and that “the Women’s History class in celebrating and bringing awareness to what it means to be a young woman today at West Springfield High School and in the world.”

“This is horrible even by Fairfax County Public Schools’ standards,” said a mother with a child who attends the school.

If the alphabet display ended with “A,” it would still be awful. Not surprisingly though, the activist public educators involved in decorating the taxpayer-funded school’s hallway with propaganda didn’t stop there.

Walking through the hallway, students are alerted that “H is for Hope” and, somehow, Kamala Harris is the image representing “hope” on the sign. This one is particularly confusing. I’m not sure that she ever truly represented hope for anyone, even Democrats.

The alphabet display further informs that “J is for Justice.” The accompanying image is of the Statue of Liberty holding a female sign in place of a torch, with her other fist in the air. Lady Liberty is surrounded by the Palestinian flag, Ukrainian flag, and transgender flag.

Who could argue with “L is for Leadership”? That is, until you see its associated image featuring Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Michelle Obama.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the high school’s teachers and staff seem to try their best to alienate male students. To that end, “M is for Mansplain,” a derogatory term to indicate when men try to explain things to women.

“N is for NOW,” the National Organization for Women, which is such a silly name for an organization that supports males in women’s sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms.

“Q is for Queer.” The “Queer” in LGBTQ seems to be an umbrella letter to boost numbers and make more people feel as though their identity is special when they don’t think they fit under the L, G, B, or T categories. I guess in the leftist alphabet display, you can’t really make it through without throwing plenty of pork to the alphabet people.

To that end, West Springfield’s students cannot escape the notoriously liberal history corridor without noting that “T is for Trans Women.” The sign displays a transgender flag heart inside the circle of the symbol for a female.

School district policy continues to compel speech by mandating preferred pronouns in the code of conduct, despite such mandates being under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Fairfax County’s leaders, along with many others across the country, seem to believe their local jurisdictions are not subject to state and national laws or the Constitution.

And to cap it all off, “Z is for male gaZe,” just proving to us once again, in case the poor test scores are not enough, that leftist education is more about indoctrination.

There is simply no defense for this display, which would be expected in the Democratic Party’s National Headquarters but not in a taxpayer-funded public school. It is highly inappropriate, ideologically homogenous, and sadly, representative of our K-12 public education system. This display clearly encapsulates the pervasive rot in the public education system and the pressing need for school choice in America.

ICYMI: IWN’s Stephanie Lundquist-Arora Tells Fox News: “This is Indoctrination; It’s Not Education.”

Posted on by McKenzie Holmes

Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a mother in Fairfax County, Virginia, an author, and Independent Women’s Network chapter leader, and she is fighting back against the Fairfax County Public Schools’ decision to allow a woke alphabet display for Women’s History Month, which promoted content about abortion, “transgenderism,” and “queerness.” Lundquist-Arora has been speaking out for years to expose the inappropriate ideology that has crept into classrooms across the country. Her latest op-ed in The Daily Signal highlights the woke “ABCs to Me” display her son encountered at his Fairfax County high school.

Lundquist-Arora’s son, a sophomore at West Springfield High School, took pictures of the woke display, which featured signs such as “A is for Abortion,” “H is for Hope” with a picture of Kamala Harris, “J is for Justice” alongside the Ukrainian, Palestinian, and transgender flags, and “Q is for Queer.”

On Monday, Stephanie Lundquist-Arora joined Ingraham Angle on Fox News to discuss her reaction to the inappropriate display in her son’s school.

Watch the full clip of Ingraham Angle featuring Stephanie Lundquist-Arora below, or click HERE.

Lundquist-Arora told Laura Ingraham, “You just really have to be so proud of these kids. They’re leading the battlefront on this.”

She said, “A mom called me and told me her son had actually ripped down the ‘A is for Abortion’ sign. Her son was upset, and he was brought into the principal’s office, and they counseled him, and they said ‘Well, you had such a visceral reaction to this.’ And I think that’s just absurd. I mean, how could you not have an emotive reaction to this? Even adults do. And so I’m really proud of the students who are standing up and saying ‘This isn’t right. This isn’t the kind of school we want to be in. This is indoctrination; it’s not education.’”

When asked by Laura Ingraham about who came up with the display, Lundquist-Arora said, “I can’t imagine that a student came up with all of them. It was so ideologically one-sided: How could the students have come up with all of it? I think that’s probably coming from the teacher, and it’s supported by the administration. The display is still standing there, and the school policy also supports it.” 

Stephanie Lunquist-Aurora, as a fearless Independent Women’s Network leader, will continue speaking out to inspire, influence, and have impact as students face another school year with the woke agenda, cancel culture, and gender ideology pushed by teachers unions and liberal school boards.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Independent Women’s Network Chapter Member Sheri Lopez Testifies Before Congress on Her Trafficking Story And Measures To Prevent Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Victims

Posted on by IWN Media Team

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Independent Women today announced that Sheri Lopez, a chapter member of Independent Women’s Network, will testify before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance today, February 27, on protecting victims of human trafficking and online exploitation and the need for legislative action to prosecute traffickers, prevent human trafficking, and protect victims and survivors.

Lopez’s goal, as stated in her testimony, is “to prevent child grooming and exploitation in America through prevention education and awareness.”

The hearing, titled “Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking and Online Exploitation,” began at 9:00 a.m. ET on February 27.

Lopez is a survivor of human trafficking and the founder of the nonprofit Pearl at the Mailbox, named in honor of the woman who saved her from a life of exploitation. Lopez is now a member of the Independent Women’s Network Phoenix Chapter and continues to share her story and advocacy to stop anyone from sharing her fate.

In her testimony, Lopez writes, in part: “Upon rescue, it took me close to 25 years to process what happened to me: the abuse, the darkness I was subjected to, the loss of freedom I faced, why my parents never suspected anything, why I could not tell anyone what was happening, the beginning of what would be 12 operations to fix my damaged internal organs, and the reality that another human being preyed upon me for money.”

Lopez will address:

  • Her own experience of being trafficked while still at home with loving parents;
  • Her prior support of updating Arizona law to not prosecute trafficking victims for prostitution;
  • And her work to support the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act last congressional session.

During her testimony, Lopez will call upon Congress to pass the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which would:

  • Provide vacatur and expungement of criminal records for trafficking survivors;
  • Mandate one hour of grooming prevention education twice a year in all American schools;
  • Increase sex offender registry requirements and mandate prison time for buyers, creating the inability to plead a misdemeanor.

“One of the greatest benefits of being a part of Independent Women’s Network is meeting women like Sheri who inspire action. Sheri is a member of our Phoenix, AZ Chapter. What an incredible gift it is to watch her use the strength she has found through healing to give voice to victims. She not only educates to prevent more victims of trafficking, she also advocates for the wellness and quality of life of victims long after being rescued. We are honored to call her a member and I am personally honored to call her a friend, said Christy Narsi, Independent Women’s Network National Chapter Director

DETAILS:

WHAT: House Judiciary Committee hearing, “Protecting Victims of Human Trafficking and Online Exploitation”

WHEN: Thursday, February 27 at 9:00 a.m.

WHERE: 2141 Rayburn House Office Building, 45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20515

MORE ABOUT INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S NETWORK:

IWN was created to build a supportive community for women and to give them the tools they need to make a positive difference in their neighborhoods and our country.

An engaging and growing community of independently-minded women work together to advance shared principles through chapter gatherings and the IWN online movement. Membership to IWN opens access to message boards, curated news, smart content, a resource center, exclusive events, and an action center.

Members of the community who are interested in joining Independent Women’s Network should email IWN Membership Manager Kiara Kincaid  (kiara.kincaid@iwnetwork.com) or visit iwnetwork.com for more information. 

Media inquiries: press@iwf.org

###

www.iwf.org

Independent Women’s Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.

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Independent Women’s Network, a project of Independent Women’s Voice, in partnership with Independent Women’s Forum, is a positive, supportive community of engaged, informed, and activated women working together to inspire, interact, influence, and have impact.

Debate Prep: Dept. of Education Investigates Maine, Federal Workers Being Placed on Leave, and the House GOP Budget

Posted on by Charlotte Whelan

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‘It Doesn’t Happen Often’ Is Not a Reasonable Defense for Men in Women’s Sports

Posted on by Stephanie Lundquist-Arora

Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a mother in Fairfax County, Virginia, an author, and the Fairfax chapter leader of Independent Women’s Network. This piece originally appeared in The Daily Signal.

Americans are gaining ground in the fight to protect women’s sports.

This week, for example, the Department of Education sent a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations, urging them to restore female athletes’ records. The demand comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive orders to protect women’s sports and to restore biological truth to the federal government. 

Also this week, the Virginia High School League, an athletic organization governing high school athletics in Virginia, changed its policy with regard to males in women’s sports to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota State High School League and the California Interscholastic Federation did not change their policies, which continue to allow males in women’s sports. Consequently, the Department of Education announced on Feb. 12 that it is launching an investigation into these two athletic organizations for Title IX violations. 

It’s about time. 

As many Americans have noted, it’s absurd that President Trump would need to issue such an obvious executive order stating that men do not belong in women’s sports. Not long ago, though, a tyrannical minority had remarkable success in compelling our speech with mandated pronouns, in allowing males to participate in women’s sports and in allowing males to roam freely in women’s bathrooms and locker rooms. Those policies remain in place in many liberal public school districts and universities across the nation.

Under the Biden administration, Americans were afraid to speak out against the transgender mob for fear of losing their jobs or being “cancelled.” We found ourselves in an unprecedented and confusing situation in which truthful statements such as “Women don’t have penises” or “Men can’t get pregnant,” were labeled by a miniscule fraction of the population as “unkind” or even “hate speech.” 

The tides have turned as people questioning the madness have found their voices through safety in numbers. Americans are collectively asking why we have been forsaking the rights, privacy, and safety of women for transgender-identifying males. It has become increasingly clear to the public, in case it was not before, that the so-called “rights” of a small group have come at the expense of another much larger group. Not surprisingly, the Left is crying foul over America’s return to commonsense regarding biological sex.

So, in response, the Left, likely noticing the public’s fatigue at its antics, has shifted its argument. Leftists say that since male participation in women’s sports doesn’t happen often, it’s not a big deal. Billy Haun, for example, the executive director of VHSL, said that from October 2020 to December 2024, 31 male students in Virginia’s high schools filed appeals to be on women’s teams and 28 were approved.

Transgender activist Shannon McKay, who is the executive director and co-founder of He She Ze and We, then argued, “It’s such a small number who want to play. So, to deny this for an entire community of people, the messaging is clear that the outside world wants them to think they don’t belong.”

The “there’s just a few so let’s allow it” logic reminds me of Vice President JD Vance’s appearance on ABC News in October 2024. During the interview with Martha Raddatz, the news correspondent had a puzzling rebuttal to Vance’s concerns about the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua crime syndicate’s activities in Aurora, Colorado. She said, “The incidents were limited to a handful of apartment complexes.”

“Martha, do you hear yourself? … A few apartment complexes, no big deal,” retorted Vance sarcastically.

To McKay and all the other transgender activists pursuing the annihilation of women’s rights on similar grounds, I also say, “Do you hear yourself? Just because only a small number do it, that doesn’t make it acceptable.”

It’s time to restore female athletes’ records, protect women’s sports from male participants, keep women’s private spaces female, and fight for free speech. We mustn’t forget this shameful chapter in our nation’s history during which the government violated free speech rights and women’s rights for the sake of an extremely loud and unreasonable tyrannical minority.