Official Statement by L.T. Pret
“We don’t need to abandon the fight for inclusion—we need to make it more balanced. True equity means protecting every voice, especially when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or unexpected.” - L.T. Pret
In recent months, I’ve spoken openly about my experience with DC Public Schools and the Washington Teachers’ Union—not to sensationalize, but to shine a light on a systemic issue I believe too many are afraid to address. I’ve filed grievances, won a decision, had LMER unjustly decide nothing happened, endured retaliation, and stood firm. But what continues to trouble me most is not just the injustice I experienced—but why it was allowed to happen in the first place.
This matters deeply to me because it exposes a dangerous blind spot in how identity politics is selectively applied within institutions like DCPS and the WTU.
As a Black male educator, my concerns were minimized—dismissed outright—because the leadership I reported for harassment represented multiple marginalized identities: Black, female, and LGBTQ+. That intersection, in today’s socio-political climate, seems to create an untouchable status that shields certain individuals from accountability—even when evidence and rulings support the claims made against them.
When someone like me speaks up, the reaction isn’t support—it’s silence. Or worse, retaliation. Despite prevailing in my grievance against school leadership, I was removed from my position, reassigned without my consent via union collusion with DCPS, and placed in jeopardy of losing my job due to budget cuts.
What should have been a fair process became a political calculation. In cases like mine, when the accused holds a more "protected" or politically sensitive identity status, the system appears to prioritize optics over truth, and politics over justice.
What’s most heartbreaking is that once again, it’s the Black man who is left unprotected—even in systems that claim to champion justice and equity.
Conservatives have long warned about the dangers of unchecked identity politics, and in this instance, that concern rings true. When institutions prioritize identity optics over fairness and outcomes, we risk silencing the very voices our schools and communities need most. Black male educators are already severely underrepresented. Instead of being uplifted, we’re often punished—especially when we’re seen as too principled, too capable, or unwilling to play politics. And it doesn’t stop there.
Even when power is held by another straight Black man, many are quick to side with LGBTQIA+ individuals—not always out of shared values, but out of fear. Fear of being accused of discrimination. Fear of losing their own positions. This creates a dangerous imbalance where anyone who challenges leadership—especially if that leadership is openly Black and gay—is cast as a threat. This isn’t equity. It’s selective protection, and it’s hurting Black men, students, and the future of diverse education alike.
This is not a call to disregard anyone’s lived experience or identity. It’s a plea for equity that includes all of us. Accountability and justice should never depend on identity hierarchies. No one should be sacrificed to preserve the illusion of progress.
It’s time we face this uncomfortable truth—because reforming education must include reforming how we protect those who serve within it.
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Media Contact:
Larry Pretlow II
L.T. Pret Communications
Disclaimer & Legal Notice
This post reflects the personal account, perspective, and commentary of Larry T. Pretlow II, a public school educator, public figure, and citizen entitled to full constitutional protections of speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 15 of the D.C. Constitution. This content is published on LarryPretlow.com, a private, independent platform not affiliated with the District of Columbia Public Schools or the Washington Teachers’ Union.
Under the District of Columbia Whistleblower Protection Act (D.C. Code § 1–615.51 et seq.), and applicable federal protections, no employee of the District of Columbia government shall be subject to retaliation for disclosing information that the employee reasonably believes evidences gross mismanagement, gross misuse or waste of public resources or funds, abuse of authority, or a violation of law, rule, or regulation.
All statements made herein are fact-based, supported by documentation, and are a matter of public concern. Nothing in this post constitutes the unauthorized disclosure of confidential student, personnel, or protected information.
As a public educator, I retain the legal right to speak out on matters of public interest—particularly those involving systemic issues in public education, union governance, and institutional accountability. Any attempt to retaliate against me for exercising these rights will be challenged through all appropriate legal and regulatory channels.
I stand not only for myself—but for every educator who has been ignored, silenced, or betrayed for telling the truth.
— Larry T. Pretlow II
Public Educator | Advocate | American Citizen
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