February 12th, during the annual senior photo—a tradition featuring all seniors united above a student-chosen slogan—the atmosphere of unity shattered drastically. As a Redwood Senior standing on that field, I watched as a moment meant for unity was traded for a display of hate.
The opportunity came about during a busy day on campus. Soon-to-be Redwood Ranger 8th graders were touring the campus while we prepared for our traditional photo. Originally, our shirts were supposed to be organized into the sentence “ALWAYS LEGIT CLASS OF 2026”. Unfortunately, during such a memorable bonding event, a group of nine fellow seniors on the school’s ASB team reckoned it would be humorous to gather next to one another and configure a homophobic slur. While some speculate the slur was a targeted reaction to two 8th graders holding hands, the ghastly reality is that these ASB leaders looked at a slogan meant to bring together their peers and saw only an opportunity to coordinate a display of disgust.
The irony is as sharp as it is painful. These were not simply students; they are leaders expected to support their peers and represent our entire community. This situation has created such an infamous outrage that it has already climbed the ranks to national news, and many past and current students have plenty to say about it. One user on TikTok says, “I’m ashamed to be in that school,” showing utter disgust at the actions taken at Redwood. At no point should we ever have to be ashamed of where we receive our education. Another user, Spencer Hunt, noted: “this is what happens when hate becomes casual. It becomes tradition, it becomes a joke. It becomes this f*** a** photo.”
This problem is bigger than Redwood; it is about how specific groups are treated in America, a place meant for all. Not only has this caused public outrage, but internally, students are increasingly frustrated with the administration. Principal Brandon Gridiron sent emails titled “Upholding the Standard of Excellence at Redwood High School,” promising that hate speech would never be supported.
All would be well if it weren’t for the fact that students put these emails through numerous AI text checkers. To everyone’s shock, these emails came back as allegedly—and in some cases, 100%—AI-written. While AI checkers are not absolute, if these are the same tools educators use to catch students “cheating,” imagine the betrayal students felt realizing the administration may have used those same tools to sweep a hazardous situation behind the curtain.
These events don’t just make LGBTQ+ students feel targeted; they make them feel silenced. Many have said they felt unsafe in that moment and remain uncomfortable with the overcompensation Redwood is using to salvage its reputation. For those few ASB members to corrupt a memorable moment into a national sensation, and for the principal to allegedly utilize AI to generate an apology instead of taking a few moments to include his own emotions, is not only negligent—it is a betrayal. To call this “concerning” would be putting it lightly; it is an insult to every student who expects honesty from their leaders.
A Redwood Senior
Shout out and well said by this young Redwood student.
I would like to hear her reaction to the fact that someone has put together a social media page specifically to slam these students individually. While their obviously unwise decision was not aimed at a specific person what’s happening to them is becoming quite dangerous. They don’t deserve a death sentence. Where does the hate end? It is never justified, even towards people (especially kids) who make mistakes.
Wow. The principle’s apology was AI-generated. Unbelievable.
My questions are: if this is how student leaders behave, what is life like for LGBT students on a day-to-day basis at the school? Where were the teachers during this event? Why didn’t they take action immediately to shut this down? Is there no monitoring or supervision?
What teacher was in charge of student government? What kind of anti-gay messages and ideas did that sponsor teach these students? Has any teacher been disciplined because of this?
Responding to CSchmitz: you’ve done an excellent job minimizing the severity of the student’s actions and creating a distraction.
What they did was not an “unwise decision”; it was an “act of hatred.” Racists call black people the n word. People who hate gays call gay men the f word.
Next, you should not be complaining the social media sites that are publishing the photos along with the names of the students and their parents. Were the students involved forced to take this picture?–No
Did they sit voluntarily for this picture?–Yes. It appears that either they put this together in response to seeing two eighth grade boys holding hands or they have been planning it for an entire week.
And what did they think would be done with the photograph? What do people do with photographs these days? Answer: they post them on social media sites and distribute them to dozens if not hundreds of people. And that’s what’s happening now. Mind you, most of these students and their parents have social media sites and have no problems publishing all aspects of their life. Now, somebody is posting the unflattering aspects of their life. Basically showing the world who they really are. They have no one but themselves to blame.
I have viewed the social media sites regarding this issue. I have seen hundreds of comments. No one is calling for the deaths of these students. You’re making that up. The worst I have seen is that they be expelled and that their college applications be rejected.
Regarding your comment that the slur did not target anyone in particular. You are wrong again. It targeted every gay kid in that school. And since these students were in a leadership position, their slur normalized and encouraged hatred towards gays, actual individuals, fellow students.
It was a stupid thing to do, but the reaction to it, is so exaggerated that it is making, at least me feel far more sympathy for the students who made this mistake… David Schmidt … who are you to say what’s in these students hearts? How do you know what they think? It’s a word . I think they were just being silly and let’s be honest , they only had so many letters to work with . God forbid , any gay person on earth get offended . You and others like you that are insisting that HATE is 100% the only conclusion as to why they did this , are the ones making gay students feel hated. Your and others overkill reaction seems far more hateful than what these seniors did. I think you enjoy having these kinds of things happen just so you can keep your high that your obvious virtue signaling gives you. I read your comment in a self righteous whiny voice in my head because that’s how I image you sound.
For those of you interested in learning how we’ve gotten to this point , I urge you to go to the link im posting here, I would also mention that I posted this link on several social media sites that were discussing this subject, and the link was removed on every one of them without comment.
https://library.gayhomeland.org/0018/EN/EN_Overhauling_Straight.htm
I’m sorry these are adults and should not be treated like children .they knew what they were doing with no regard to anyone’s feelings.they need to be suspended sent to classes to not be so hate ful.this type of behavior starts at home. And if they walk free there not going to stop only continue
Good job to the Redwood Senior and your comments.you have more common sense than those involved.