A Rhode Island teacher whose photograph with Donald Trump went viral has spoken out about his concerns over the president's LGBTQ policies. Nikos Giannopoulos, a special education teacher and Rhode Island Teacher of the Year 2017, visited the White House in April with other award-winning educators.
In a Facebook post, Giannopoulos described the visit as a brief photo opportunity, saying Trump read prepared remarks and did not allow the National Teacher of the Year to speak. He wore a rainbow pin and carried a black lace fan to show LGBTQ pride.
Giannopoulos wrote that he wanted to tell Trump: 'Anti-LGBTQ policies have a body count.' He also expressed gratitude for the LGBTQ community and highlighted the importance of living authentically despite societal criticism.
The photo, showing Giannopoulos next to a smiling Trump and Melania Trump, was shared thousands of times on social media. The incident has reignited debate over the Trump administration's record on LGBTQ rights, including changes to education protections and proposed budget cuts.
