Parent expresses concern about transgender camp counselor at Huntsville's Space Camp

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Alabama official calls for firing of transgender Space Camp employee after parent speaks out

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Several Alabama politicians say they are concerned about children’s safety at Huntsville’s Space Camp after a parent complained about the presence of a transgender employee.

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Clay Yarbrough of Owens Cross Roads, the father of an 11-year-old Huntsville city school student, said he became aware on Thursday evening that a Space Camp crew member is transgender.

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His daughter was to attend camp in a week as part of a school exercise, he said.

“I heard that one little girl had called her parents and said this guy is in the (dorm) room and ‘I don’t feel comfortable,’” Yarbrough said.

The employee referenced by critics declined to comment Monday.

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“We would like to assure parents, teachers, and the public that the safety and security of Space Camp students is our number one priority. Any allegations of misconduct are taken very seriously. We are working to determine the facts in this case, after which we will take appropriate action,” a statement from the Space and Rocket Center on Monday read.

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“Additionally, staff sleep in separate rooms from students and use separate bathroom facilities. We also provide 24-hour onsite security including round-the-clock video surveillance, regular foot and vehicle patrols, and controlled campus and building access,” the center said.

“We are an apolitical organization with no social agenda. Our singular mission is to inspire and educate.”

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“It is imperative that Space Camp remains a safe place for children and young people,” Tuberville said. “I urge the Space and Rocket Center to ensure that its reputation as a world-renowned camp remains untarnished by the progressive agenda of today,” Tuberville said.

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Yarbrough said he called Space Camp on Friday and asked questions of Space Camp Vice President Robin Soprano.

“She said, ‘I can assure you that your kid’s safety is my number one priority, and no males are allowed in female dorms, and no females are allowed in male dorms.’ So I asked, do you allow transgenders in?”

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Yarbrough said Soprano “dodged” several additional questions, but finally told him that a trans female was allowed on the dorm hallways, and the dorm rooms are not locked.

Yarbrough said he questioned Soprano about whether the crew member would be alone with the young people attending the camp.

“She just kind of set there for a minute, and then said to me, ‘You’re sure throwing out a lot of hypotheticals.’”

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Yarbrough said he was shocked by the “garbage” he saw on the employee’s social accounts. AL.com has not independently verified whether the social media accounts in question belong to a Space Camp crew member.

“Are you not vetting your people? You find that instantly. It takes five minutes to find what we found on Twitter. I’m aggravated I didn’t find out beforehand,” Yarbrough said.

He said he plans to withdraw his daughter from Space Camp and does not think it is appropriate if someone born male is alone with girls in a camp setting.

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