Pictured is a sign displayed on the front lawn of a home in the Southern Lehigh School District by the “You Belong” campaign. The campaign was launched by district parent Kristen Bruck this past February and has since expanded to include volunteers at other Lehigh Valley school districts, including the Nazareth Area School District. An advocacy group, “Parents for Choice Nazareth,” has launched a boycott in opposition against any Nazareth-area business displaying the signs in storefronts.

A local advocacy group is asking prospective patrons to boycott about a dozen Nazareth-area businesses after merchants recently posted signs encouraging diversity and inclusion.

The signs, stating “You Belong, You Matter, We are All Nazareth,” were distributed to the businesses at the start of the summer. The signs are all part of the “You Belong” campaign, which was launched by Southern Lehigh School District parent Kristen Bruck this past February. The campaign has since expanded to include volunteers at other Lehigh Valley school districts, including the Nazareth Area School District.

The advocacy group, “Parents for Choice Nazareth,” states in a letter obtained by lehighvalleylive.com the sign’s message promotes a political agenda and sends the wrong statement to children about gender and sexuality. Letters dated Aug. 19 were sent to the businesses whom the organization said displayed the signs in their storefronts.

“Parents for Choice Nazareth” also takes issue with the signs depicting colors from the LGBTQ+/transgender flag. They want the businesses with signs to know they are supporting a campaign they claim highlights a “divisive a political nature,” and business owners are “alienating and dividing vs. uniting” in displaying them.

“If we want to show community solidarity, this is NOT the way to do so!,” the letter states.

“Parents for Choice Nazareth” additionally claims in the letter not every business owner wanted the sign. Some business owners told the group the campaign’s volunteers went ahead and posted the sign themselves before snapping a photo and posting it on “You Belong” social media pages. The photos have since been taken down, “Parents for Choice Nazareth” states.

April Gabriel-Ferretti, the campaign volunteer handling the Nazareth Area School District, did not immediately return messages Friday afternoon seeking comment.

“It is our experience and belief that Nazareth is a wonderful place to live!,” the letter goes on to say. “We do not need signs to virtue signal what is already taking place in our town. No one said that everyone is not welcome here or that they do not belong!”

The letter further states the nearly 40 people who signed it, all members of advocacy group, will not be patronizing any businesses displaying the signs.

“We are sharing this information with you so you are informed and thereby can make an informed decision on if you can continue to support this campaign,” the letter adds. “If not, we kindly ask that you remove the sign from your business so our community of parents and families know to support your business.”

Bruck told lehighvalleylive.com Friday that in starting up the campaign, she never wanted it to be political. The campaign aims to promote diversity and inclusion in area schools for LGBTQ+ youth, students of color, and other historically marginalized groups.

It all started when Bruck learned parents and school administrators were discussing what educators should and should not be allowed to post in individual classrooms. A Southern Lehigh teacher who displayed one of Bruck’s signs in her classroom sparked debate this past March after parent complaints, according to Bruck and a report in the Morning Call newspaper.

The discussion comes as school districts nationally have been embroiled in controversy over curricula some say touches on topics best left for the home, especially in sexuality and gender. Others have accused school districts of using teaching plans portraying the U.S. as a country founded on racism and therefore, still entrenched in bigotry.

Bruck later began marketing the message on yard signs, car magnets, stickers, apparel, coffee mugs and tote bags so people in the community could signal their support. The campaign eventually expanded to volunteers in the other regional school districts and states. Aside from Southern Lehigh and Nazareth, volunteers also are helping with “You Belong” in the Saucon Valley School District.

Bruck said she couldn’t comment on claims made by “Parents for Choice Nazareth” over business owners forced to display signs because she wasn’t there.

Barbara Saslo, owner of the Nazareth Ceramic Center, said she personally didn’t feel pressured to display a sign by the volunteer. The sign remains posted at her business along Broad Street.

“In my opinion, everyone needs to feel part of the Nazareth community and there’s been times in the past where individuals from a variety of backgrounds did not feel welcomed,” Saslo said. “I feel this sign on its surface embodies inclusion and not exclusion.”

Helena Lazzarini, who owns Naz-O-Nut Dooolicious in Upper Nazareth Township, said she has since removed her sign. She supports LGBTQ+, including having a family member who is part of the community, but was leery when she learned about the sign debate.

“The sign had rainbow and community colors so I thought this was a sweet gesture,” Lazzarini said. “That is it.”

In response to the controversy, Gabriel-Ferretti and other community members have since organized a rally to support anyone feeling marginalized.

The event, titled “Nazareth Together,” is being held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Nazareth Borough Park, 475 N. Broad St., in Nazareth. Guest speakers in attendance are expected to include representatives of St. John’s United Church of Christ; Lehigh Valley Stands Up, and the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, as well as area business owners and public officials.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).

© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.