Class trip to gay bar & grill by South Florida public elementary school students sparks backlash

A decision by administrators of a South Florida public elementary school to take students on a field trip to an LBGTQ-friendly bar and grill is sparking social media backlash.

The recent trip by students at Wilton Manors Elementary School in Broward County to nearby Rosie's Bar and Grill was confirmed Wednesday by a school board member, according to the Daily Wire.

"I was SO honored to be invited to chaperone @WiltonManorsES's field trip to the incredible Rosie's!" Broward County School Board Member Sarah Leonardi wrote in a tweet along with undated pictures of the class outing.

Among the photos is one of 18 young children in matching shirts and COVID-19 masks sitting next to the establishment's sign. 

Another photo shows them sitting at tables inside the bar wearing face masks and apparently listening to a presentation.

The lunch outing sparked hundreds of disapproving social media posts, including one from outspoken GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw.

"Broward School Board member takes little kids to a gay bar on a field trip, forcing them to wear masks 'to keep them safe,'" Pushaw tweeted. 

Another Twitter user posted: "The kind of bar is not even the point... it's a BAR..."

The school board in a statement late Thursday to the Daily Wire said Wilton Manors offers a "Unit of Inquiry" in which students learn about "neighborhood safety, community helpers, the importance of being a community member, what it takes for a community to be successful, different jobs in a community, and social skills when interacting with others."

The bar and restaurant was not open to the general public when students arrived, and they moved to an outside patio to order and eat.

The students ordered their meals from a student-friendly menu, not the regular menu that includes such offerings as "Ivana Hooker '' and "Young Ranch Hand," the Daily Wire also reports.