St. Pete Pastor Rebukes Florida DOE for Culture War Letter to Parents

ST. PETERSBURG — Rev. Andy Oliver, a local Methodist pastor and public school parent, issued a pointed rebuttal Monday to a statewide letter from Florida’s new Commissioner of Education, calling it an act of “state-sanctioned bullying” and accusing the Department of Education of weaponizing “parental rights” to promote exclusion and discrimination.

The letter from Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, sent to parents across Florida through local school districts, outlines what it describes as parental rights under state law. It highlights policies restricting instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation, mandates disclosure of student health information to parents, and directs schools to provide gender-segregated restrooms. The letter also emphasizes the right to object to instructional materials and to avoid content that may make students feel “guilt” based on their background.

Rev. Oliver, pastor at Allendale United Methodist Church and father of a Pinellas County Schools student, condemned the message in a public letter. Oliver argued the letter’s policies marginalize LGBTQ+ students and distort honest teaching of race and history.

“The language around ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ instruction falsely implies danger where there is none,” wrote Oliver. “Learning that LGBTQ+ people exist and have a place in the world is not harmful; erasing their existence is.”

He accused the DeSantis administration and education officials of advancing a political agenda that punishes difference and erases entire groups of students. “True parental partnership means supporting all families, not just the ones who agree with the Governor’s platform,” Oliver said.

Oliver is the latest critic to suggest the Florida Department of Education is engaged in a political culture war that harms Florida students.

“The framing of Florida as a beacon of ‘education freedom’ rings hollow when books are being banned, educators are being silenced, and students are being told that parts of their identity are unmentionable,” wrote Oliver.

The pastor’s letter concludes with a plea to return to education rooted in “critical thinking, compassion, creativity, and community.”