In 2017, a group of students and parents in the state of Alabama is calling for the removal of a rainbow pride flag from a high school classroom — arguing that it can be compared to displaying a Confederate flag.
"We strongly feel that it creates a hostile and provocative learning environment for students not comfortable to openly supporting the LGBTQ+ community in a public school where students come from diverse political and religious backgrounds," a Change.org petition reads about the flag in Auburn.
More than 800 people have signed the petition demanding the flag on display just outside a classroom at Auburn High School be taken down.
The flag was hung during a school fair for the school’s Educate club, which promotes diversity, according to NBC affiliate WSFA.
"We believe it is unprofessional and distracting for a teacher to be so openly displaying their political views in an unbiased and socially neutral public setting," the petition says, adding that "subjecting or explicitly exposing students from diverse political backgrounds to political views differing from theirs can make students uncomfortable and distract them."
The petition — started by Andrew Monk and directed at Principal Shannon Pignato — compares the pride symbol to the Confederate flag.
"[T]he signers of this petition would like for you to consider the uproar and chaos that would ensue were a teacher to hang for example a Confederate, Christian, or Heterosexual Flag in their classroom," the petition says.
"There would likely be protests, emails from teachers, and threatening of lawsuits from parents with differing viewpoints. As such, one does not see teachers hanging these flags in classrooms due to the same argument that it is unprofessional and can create a hostile and unideal learning environment."
A school spokesman told NBC News in a statement that no one has come forward to present the petition to the principal.
"[Principal Pignato] is aware of the situation and is working with staff and students to address the concerns. While we are aware of the online petition, there is not a controversy at our school," the statement said.