Two-time Olympian Brooke Crain was set to speak to Visalia Unified students about suicide prevention and healthy lifestyle choices — at least that’s what she thought.
But when a Visalia administrator censored what she could say, the Olympian dropped out.
In a text message to Frank Escobar, VUSD director of student services, Crain asked if she could share her coming out story because of the impact it had on her mental health, she said.
In response to Crain’s interest in sharing her story, Escobar told her that the subject was “kind of a sensitive area” for the VUSD school board.
“I think you can definitely reference it [coming out] in regards to aspects of MH (Mental Health). What we want to steer away from is encouraging or advocating for students to that choice,” Escobar said in the text message to Crain. “That’s where the board draws the line.”
The district is now denouncing the comment.
The text messages were shared by Crain who said she can’t talk openly without telling her full story.
“I kind of have a lot that I have gone through… I am a professional BMX racer and I am also a two-time Olympian,” she said during an interview with Visalia Times-Delta. “But I also am gay and lost my dad last July to suicide.”
Crain is a Mt. Whitney High School graduate and competed in the 2012 and 2016 summer Olympics. Since her father’s death last year, Crain has advocated for suicide awareness and recently hosted a youth BMX racing clinic in the Central Valley.
In 2018, Crain came out to the world. She married BMX rider Rachel Jones last year.
“I didn’t think that I would ever be able to be who I was in the sport as well as come out as being openly gay,” she said. “That was the start of my mental health journey.”
Crain’s goal is to advocate for LGBTQ+ youth and raise awareness on suicide because both are special to her, she said.
Board President Juan Guerrero said Escobar’s comments were “unfortunate” and added that Crain has a platform she can rely on at VUSD.
Administrators apologized Thursday afternoon.
“VUSD would like to go on the record and state incorrect statements about the district were made by Mr. Escobar in a text message exchange between him and Ms. Crain,” said Kim Batty, the district’s spokeswoman. “Mr. Escobar was not authorized to speak on behalf of board nor the district on this manner.
“VUSD embraces diversity among all students, staff and families. VUSD apologizes for any pain this text message exchange has caused Ms. Crain.”
The school district first asked Crain to speak to high school students via Zoom during a virtual assembly. Those plans quickly changed when the district asked Crain to pre-record a video that it would then play for students.
The video was never filmed, and Crain didn’t attend the planned virtual assembly.
Brian Poth, CEO of The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia, said it was “disappointing” to learn about Crain’s experience with VUSD.
“Students should be hearing messages that are pro-equality, especially with our area’s history,” he said. “I thought we had come much further.”
Poth added that Crain is welcome to speak to youth who attend The Source.
“It’s really important that LGBT kids have LGBT role models,” he said. “Being authentic and being visible and telling your whole story is part of good mental health.”
LGBT youth are nearly five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth. Each time an LGBT child is victimized — physical or verbal harassment or assault — the likelihood of self-harm doubles, according to The Trevor Project.
“It’s 2021… That’s the problem with what these kids are dealing with — these are their educators,” Crain said.
Visalia Unified’s history with the LGBTQ community
In 2000, a former student filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were harassed for their sexual orientation.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network joined the suit in 2001. VUSD settled the lawsuit in 2002.
The lawsuit alleged that gay and lesbian students faced routine harassment, with the settlement including training for Visalia Unified staff and high school students.
To learn about Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force and LOSS Team, visit the task force’s website.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255, connects people in crisis, whether or not they are having suicidal thoughts, with skilled, trained crisis workers who will listen to their problems and tell them about mental health services in their area. It is free of charge and available at any time.
Joshua Yeager contributed to this report.
