Several Alabama politicians say they are concerned about children’s safety at Huntsville’s Space Camp after a parent complained about the presence of a transgender employee.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Reps. Dale Strong and Robert Aderholt posted statements on X, formerly known as Twitter, after a parent posted on Facebook complaining about the gender identity of one of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center employees. The topic was also picked up by the Libs of TikTok account.
Clay Yarbrough of Owens Cross Roads, the father of an 11-year-old Huntsville city school student, said he became aware on Thursday evening that a Space Camp crew member is transgender.
His daughter was to attend camp in a week as part of a school exercise, he said.
“I heard that one little girl had called her parents and said this guy is in the (dorm) room and ‘I don’t feel comfortable,’” Yarbrough said.
The employee referenced by critics declined to comment Monday.
“We would like to assure parents, teachers, and the public that the safety and security of Space Camp students is our number one priority. Any allegations of misconduct are taken very seriously. We are working to determine the facts in this case, after which we will take appropriate action,” a statement from the Space and Rocket Center on Monday read.
As a condition of employment, camp staff undergo nationwide criminal background checks including court records, Department of Corrections data, state sex offender registries from across the country, and multi-panel drug tests, the center said.
“Additionally, staff sleep in separate rooms from students and use separate bathroom facilities. We also provide 24-hour onsite security including round-the-clock video surveillance, regular foot and vehicle patrols, and controlled campus and building access,” the center said.
“We are an apolitical organization with no social agenda. Our singular mission is to inspire and educate.”
The statement came after several members of Alabama’s Congressional delegation spoke out on social media, citing safety concerns but without including specifics.
“I call on the Center to immediately remove this individual and open a safety review to consider the potential harm and damages they have inadvertently caused children,” Strong said in the post. He said putting the “safety and wellbeing (of children) first” is critical.
“It is imperative that Space Camp remains a safe place for children and young people,” Tuberville said. “I urge the Space and Rocket Center to ensure that its reputation as a world-renowned camp remains untarnished by the progressive agenda of today,” Tuberville said.
Aderholt said his “office promptly expressed my concerns directly with Space Camp officials.”
“Parents want to know that when they entrust their children to others…that they will be well looked after and not put into situations that could potentially put them in danger,” Aderholt said.
Rep. Gary Palmer called the situation “unacceptable.”
“When parents send their kids to Space Camp in Alabama, they should be confident they are going to a safe, educational environment,” Palmer said.
Space Camp hosts about 26,000 participants each year. According to its website, it follows federal guidelines and does not discriminate against protected classes when hiring.
The camp also does not allow physical contact between staff and students beyond a fist bump or high five and no staff member is allowed to be alone with a student behind a closed door.
There is also no sharing of personal details, including personal phone numbers, email addresses or social media information. Discussion of religion, sexual topics, politics, or sharing of opinions and beliefs that may be controversial is also prohibited.
Yarbrough said he called Space Camp on Friday and asked questions of Space Camp Vice President Robin Soprano.
“She said, ‘I can assure you that your kid’s safety is my number one priority, and no males are allowed in female dorms, and no females are allowed in male dorms.’ So I asked, do you allow transgenders in?”
Efforts by AL.com to reach Soprano were not immediately successful.
Yarbrough said Soprano “dodged” several additional questions, but finally told him that a trans female was allowed on the dorm hallways, and the dorm rooms are not locked.
Yarbrough said he questioned Soprano about whether the crew member would be alone with the young people attending the camp.
“She just kind of set there for a minute, and then said to me, ‘You’re sure throwing out a lot of hypotheticals.’”
Yarbrough said he shared the story on Facebook once he became aware of the situation. He said he didn’t look deeply into the employee’s social media presence until after his conversation with Space Camp officials.
Yarbrough said he was shocked by the “garbage” he saw on the employee’s social accounts. AL.com has not independently verified whether the social media accounts in question belong to a Space Camp crew member.
“Are you not vetting your people? You find that instantly. It takes five minutes to find what we found on Twitter. I’m aggravated I didn’t find out beforehand,” Yarbrough said.
He said he plans to withdraw his daughter from Space Camp and does not think it is appropriate if someone born male is alone with girls in a camp setting.
“I don’t hate these people, man,” Yarbrough said.
“It goes against everything I’m for,” he said. “I just don’t think this is any place for it. I just think it’s totally out of line.”
AL.com reporter Williesha Morris contributed reporting.
