A Chama School Board member shared and wrote transphobic and insensitive posts on a private Facebook page.
A post on Board Secretary Stephanie Maestas’ personal Facebook page appears to show New York-based transgender activist Emilia Decaudin, and Maestas appears to misgender her and comment on her genitalia.
“We are doomed,” Maestas wrote. “Men don’t belong in dresses! I don’t care which way you spin it, it ain’t right! He didn’t even bother tucking it away. Granted it is small….but still visible.”
Maestas said in an interview that she did not know of any policies in the Chama School District relating to transgender students.
Other posts on Maestas’ page are derogatory toward the Black Lives Matter movement, and others promote binge drinking or other unhealthy behavior and contain profanity.
“Anybody notice how fast the COVID conversation disappeared when the nation’s attention was turned elsewhere? Notice how media controls you,” reads one screenshot of a post Maestas shared.
Another screenshot of a post shared says, “This just in… no work boots were stolen in the looting.”
Maestas’ post with the image reads, “No work boots, gloves, overalls, probably no toothpaste either!” seemingly implying that Black Lives Matter protesters have bad hygiene and work ethic, a common racist stereotype.
In another screenshot of a post, Maestas shares an image that asked, “If I got arrested, what would you think I did?” and seemingly encourages vulgar responses.
One commenter wrote “punching someone,” to which she responded, “Extremely likely!” Another wrote “beating someone’s a**,” where Maestas responded “you know me!”
Another post she shared reads “BLM? What’s the bureau of land management got to do with anything?”
According to a screenshot, one friend shared a news post to Maestas’ page about an Oklahoma school board member drinking alcohol during a virtual board meeting, and wrote, “This would be you.” Maestas put a laughing reaction in response to the post.
Maestas declined to answer questions asking her to explain the posts, saying that her personal views were not school board matters.
“The only people I report to about my personal life are my parents, who are both deceased, and my husband,” she said.
School Board President Earl James Martinez wrote in an email that he would answer questions in writing, but did not respond to a second email containing questions.
Maestas ran unopposed in 2017 as an incumbent.