Duval Superintendent Explains Ending Partnership with JASMYN, Resident Calls it ‘Pedophile Group’

JACKSONVILLE (FLV) – Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene explained her recent decision to terminate Duval County Public School’s partnership with the well-known LGBTQ organization JASMYN after the group advertised an inappropriate card game on social media to minors.

JASMYN started a contract with the school district under the initial grant from the CDC partnership from August 2013 through July 2018. The district entered into a second round which was funded from August 2018 through July 2023, but will now end in January 2023 due to the separation. The portion of the grant that was part of the activities related to JASMYN was approximately $45,000 annually. Under board policy, the superintendent has authority to initiate or terminate contracts that are $75,000 and under.

“When I learned about the post we did [….] reach out to JASMYN, JASMYN issued a statement providing an explanation on the activity [….] and once exploring that statement and ensuring that we were correct, that this information did come from JASMYN, I personally called the executive director of JASMYN and shared with them that I would be initiating a termination,” Greene said. “Which, under our contract, we must give them a 30 day notice. So, I called the executive director to ensure that she heard it from me and that she wasn’t just going to receive a letter and explained why I was terminating the contract.”

One community member thanked the superintendent for “severing all ties with JASMYN.”

“I would like to thank the superintendent for severing all ties with JASMYN. It is quite apparent that the only people that were benefiting from JASMYN were the board members of JASMYN. Students who are clearly not receiving healthy benefits from this organization as can be seen from their social media post, so thank you,” said Laurie.

JASMYN CEO Cindy Watson said the card game was “never used with minors,” but their social media post advertised the event for teens as young as 13.

“Now you should know we provide a variety of services for teens and also for young adults. The images associated with the adult card game were used in a program for young adults to de-stigmatize HIV testing and promote proper condom use and sexual safety. Be clear, these activities were never used with minors,” said Watson.

Greene explained her responsibility to ensure the safety and security of students.

“As a constitutional officer it is my responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all of our students and at any point if there is an event, a situation that could possibly put our students in harm’s way, it is my responsibility to take action. Sometimes that action requires me to take it to board approval, other times if it is under my authority I have the authority to make that decision and that is what happened in this situation,” Greene explained.

A student who attends DCPS asked Greene to rethink her decision.

“I as a pansexual girl, I am hurt by your recent decision. We as queer people want to love who we want to love and you are taking away the vital acceptance we need as youth [….] You have once again formed another decision that has greatly affected your students and I would once again like you to please rethink your decision,” said the student.

Greene clarified that Gay Straight Alliance clubs are supported and they will determine resources and services to maintain support to students.

“We sent a letter to our principles and our GSA sponsors ensuring them that although we are terminating this contract, it is our goal to ensure that our GSA clubs are supported and that this is in no way an indication that we would be changing anything with our GSA clubs and we’re at the point where we are now determining resources and services that we need to maintain that support to our students,” Greene explained.

According to the contract, JASMYN has been providing the school district with services such as assisting with the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, assisting with the planning and promotion of HIV/STD prevention programming, supporting and assisting with trainings for teachers, developing a referral system linking students to care coordination, and conducting at least one Parent Academy course on LGBTQ+ support.

Greene said the school district will still provide those services or work with the other partners they have in the CDC grant such as the University of North Florida Public Health, Full Service Schools and Florida Health Department Duval to provide the services JASMYN provided to students.

“We will have to provide those services or work with the other partners that we have in the grant to pick up any particular service that we feel we can’t provide internally to see where our other partners can provide those services. So it is this continued commitment to students and employees. [….] We will speak to those three organizations to again see, are there other services that JASMYN was providing that they feel like well, we can pick that service up or as a school district, we will determine whether we will pick that up. That is why the executive leadership will meet with GSA sponsors and club member,” said Greene.

Jacksonville resident Raymond Johnson called JASMYN a “pedophile group that sexually grooms children.”

“You guys know that I’ve been working to expose JASMYN for years. While I’m thankful and expect you to sever ties with JASMYN, I know the superintendent has made it clear that their agenda will remain. [….]  Like it or not, we will continue to call JASMYN for what it is: a pedophile group that sexually grooms children. And I expect you to stop any involvement with this kind of agenda. Thank you and Merry Christmas,” said Johnson