Visalia Unified vows accountability after homophobic slur photo incident
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- District probes photo; number of ASB students involved not disclosed.
- Superintendent promises accountability, restoration, and a fair, fact‑based probe.
- School offering dialogues for student leaders and plans a community roundtable.
Visalia Unified School District Superintendent Kirk Shrum called the anti-gay slur photo taken by a group of high school students last week “an act that has deeply impacted our community.”
The photo, which was condemned by LGBTQ advocates and others, has been circulating on social media and has gathered media attention statewide. The investigation continues into the group of Redwood High School’s ASB senior students in Visalia who took a picture spelling out the anti-gay slur on school campus, district official said.
In a letter to parents and community, posted by the district on its social media Tuesday afternoon, Shrum called the students’ behavior unacceptable, something that won’t be tolerated, minimized, or ignored.
According to the district, specific details of the investigation cannot be made public, such as how many ASB senior students are involved in the investigation.
The photo shows a group of eight ASB students, male and female, spelling out “2 FAG6OTS” while seating next to each other on the bleachers In the photo, each letter or number in the slur is individually emblazoned on a T-shirt, so that when the students are arranged seated next to each other, along a bleacher row, the word is spelled out.
According to a Visalia Times Delta news report, the school’s associated student body was leading an eight-grade orientation on Thursday when some ASB leaders reacted to two middle-school boys holding hands.
The district has not disclosed what the consequences might be for those who took part in the photo.
“We are taking appropriate action in accordance with district board policy and applicable law. Our commitment is to a fair, comprehensive investigation grounded in facts,” Shrum said.
Shrum said the goal is to have “accountability, fostering growth and restoration.”
According to the district, Redwood High School administrators are meeting with students to address hate speech, civility, and the responsibility that comes with being a member of Visalia schools and community.
The district said, “student leaders are being provided opportunities to engage in healthy and productive dialogue with their peers and staff about belonging and respect.”
As a district, Shrum said they are planning to “convene a roundtable with community leaders who support students in modeling civility and engaging in positive discourse.”
“While we may hold differing views, we can all agree that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect,” he said.
District officials said hate speech will not be tolerated, and the district is committed to providing a safe learning environment where students feel valued, respected, and able to focus on their education.
“The actions of a few students do not define our entire student body, our staff, or our school community,” Shrum said.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Visalia Unified vows accountability after homophobic slur photo incident."
