2FAG6OTS – Redwood High School – Visalia Unified School District

How the Redwood High School Senior Picture Event Became An International News Story, And How The Visalia Unified School District Responded.

Thursday, February 12, 2026, was Senior class picture day at Redwood High School, in Visalia. An incident at that photo shoot would blow up social media, and garner world-wide attention. As members of the senior class were arranging themselves on bleachers for a panorama photo, a group of ASB members were on the side of the gym, getting ready to take their place on the front two rows, dressed in white T-shirts with letters printed on them, to spell out “ALWAYS LEGIT CLASS OF 2026”.

Unfortunately, about ten students took the opportunity to spell out something else, while the adults in the room were distracted. They arranged themselves to spell out the homophobic slur, “2FAG6OTS”, and quickly posted them to social media. The resulting storm hit almost immediately.

The following post details the events as they occurred, based on the information provided to me by Visalia Unified School District after a public records request made on April 17, 2026. After waiting several months for the information, I received the final document dump on July 27, 2026. There are many records not released due to confidentiality laws (which is completely understandable) and “attorney work product privilege”. This blog is based on the released documents, and therefore will not reflect all of the relevant information regarding the incident. This, however, is what we have.

Rumors attributed the slur to a visit by eighth-grade students earlier that morning on a visitation day, when two boys were seen walking on campus holding hands. While eighth grade students were on campus that morning, the story about the two boys has not been verified. The eighth graders were gone from campus at the time of the senior panorama photo shoot in the gym. A lot of other rumors also began about the incident, most of which are not verifiable, and probably not true.

That evening, VUSD put out this social media post on Facebook:

The next day, VUSD put out another Facebook post regarding the situation.

Days later, on February 17, VUSD made this release on Facebook:

The notice on the 13th said “following a thorough investigation”, and on the 17th “as we continue our investigation”.

In my public records request, I specifically asked for:

Investigation Results (Feb 13): All reports, final results, and documentation regarding the “thorough investigation” referred to in the VUSD Facebook “Community Alert” posted on February 13, 2026.

Investigation Results (Feb 17): All reports, preliminary or final results, and documentation regarding the investigation into the “anti-gay slur” incident referred to in the VUSD Facebook announcement posted on February 17, 2026.

None of the materials released contained any such documentation. It must be assumed, since they did not indicate that no such documents exist, that they must be in those the District has determined to be either confidential, or “attorney work product privilege”.

As the days passed, rumors were continuing to fly, with some claiming the students were given three options as punishment:

Be dropped from ASB (Associated Student Body)
Don’t walk at graduation
Don’t attend Grad Night

In an email dated February 13, at 1:41 pm, to Board of Trustees member Walta Gamoian, Leticia Herrera asked if the rumors about students picking their own punishment were true. At 5:15 Gamoian responded with “that is not true. The District is meeting with the students and their parents”.

Meanwhile, social media was blowing up over the incident, with responses from “it’s just words”, “Who cares? It was a picture of kids that technically didn’t spell anything. Don’t you have better things to do like take down all the stupid pride flags in classrooms”, “expel those students”, to charges that people demanding answers from the District were only interested in ruining the involved student’s and their parent’s lives.

Calvin Feehan, a Spanish teacher and Yearbook advisor, who was in the gym at the time of the incident, wrote this account:

Feehan_account_incident_Feb_18 Download

Redactions were done by Visalia Unified School District.

On February 17, 2026, VUSD Trustee Paul Belt posted this comment on a response to an earlier post by him that this was a “mistake” on the part of the students.

In his posts, at no point did I see him willing to hold the students themselves responsible for “hatred and vitriolic language”. The closest he got was a comment at a Board meeting that the incident should be “a teachable moment”.

The Source LGBT+ Center released this message on February 13, 2026, on Facebook:

On February 19, 2026, The Source posted this to it’s website:

Regarding Homophobia at Redwood High School

An open message to the community addressing the homophobic slur at Redwood High School:

The Source LGBT+ Center is deeply disturbed by the image circulating from Redwood High School showing students lined up in shirts that together spelled a homophobic slur targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

Let’s be clear: this is not a harmless joke. Incidents like this reinforce stigma, normalize hate, and send a painful message to LGBTQ+ students that they are unsafe, unwelcome, or unworthy of respect. That message carries real consequences for young people’s mental health, safety, and sense of belonging.

To the students impacted by this hate speech: you are not alone. You deserve respect. The Source LGBT+ Center is here for you, and we will continue to provide spaces where you are affirmed, supported, and protected.

We appreciate Superintendent Kirk Shrum’s prompt and direct response. Swift leadership sets the tone for accountability and makes clear that discrimination has no place in our schools. Schools must be environments of safety, learning, and community. It is the responsibility of adults in those spaces to address harm directly and guide students toward choices that reflect the values of Visalia Unified School District.

This incident is also a reminder that GSA and student pride clubs on campus are not optional. They are essential. LGBTQ+ youth deserve schools where they are respected and supported. Educational leaders must model that standard and make expectations clear. Regardless of the intent, there is a real impact.

The Source stands ready to advocate with students and families for safer spaces on and off campus. We will continue to offer cultural competency training for students, faculty, and staff of any school district. Education remains one of the most effective tools for preventing harm, building empathy, and creating school communities where every young person can thrive. We expect meaningful accountability and tangible steps forward from the Visalia Unified School District.

Our youth deserve better. We can do better.

In solidarity,
The Source LGBT+ Center

Local media quickly picked up on the social media buzz about the incident, with many reporters emailing the District and asking about it due to numerous people notifying them.

Some of the local media include:

The Visalia Times Delta
The Sun Gazette
The Valley Voice
The Fresno Bee
The Hanford Sentinel
TV stations KSEE 24, KGEP 47, KFSN 30, and KMPH 26

Other media included Yahoo News, Q Voice News, The California Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, instinct magazine, NewsBreak, Blaze Media, The Daily Caller, Total Pro Sports, The New York Post, The San Joaquin Valley Sun, LGBTQ Nation, KTLA, EdSource, Patch, The Pride LA, Lavendar Magazine, The Sacramento Bee, The Modesto Bee, The Merced Sun Star, The San Luis Obispo Tribune, Hollywood Unlocked, Pink News, and Edge Media Network. This is certainly not a complete list.

International outlets covered it as well. The Hindustan Times, and Your Ex (New Zealand), carried stories about the incident. Other outlets also carried it, as many people have made comments that “my friend in (some country) messaged me that they heard about it”.

My blog posts on the incident can be seen at the following links:

Here’s a timeline I constructed based on the data released by VUSD:

Thursday 12 February 12:10 pm – Students begin arriving at the Redwood Gym for the Senior Class ‘panorama’ photo. Visiting 8th graders had cleared the gym before pictures were taken. None were present during the Senior panorama picture event.
Thursday 12 February 12;25 pm (approx.) – Students in the T-shirts seen forming a word and taking pictures. When Calvin Feehan, Yearbook teacher, saw “2FAG6OTS” spelled out, he intervened. After berating the students involved, he told them to delete the pictures. And unidentified male student said “Yes, it’s been deleted. You’re right”.
Thursday 12 February 12:30 pm (approx.) – Senior panorama picture taken. Students not involved in the offending picture seemed unaware it had happened, according to Feehan.
Thursday 12 February 3:22 pm – Text message to “team” (possibly from Gridiron) for a meeting at 4:10 re: “about a situation involving our ABS students”.
Thursday 12 February 4:56 pm – Principal Gridiron puts out an ‘all-staff’ email about the incident, per Feehan.
Thursday 12 February 5:18 pm – Text message to Chris Frankland from (Gridiron?) – requesting the list of “the names of the students we met with”
Thursday 12 February 5:41 pm – Text message forwarding a flyer post about student walk-out for February 13. 9am on Main campus, walk downtown, then to the courthouse.
Thursday 12 February 6:08 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to KSEE24 with Shrum social media release.
Thursday 12 February 8:50 pm – email to Shrum, Board, and Monica Garrett from Adam Garrett (related?) demanding transparent investigation, discipline, next steps.
Thursday 12 February 8:31 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to “Front office mailbox” and Lisa Wheelock with Shrum social media release.
Thursday 12 February 8:53 pm – email from Garrett forwarded by Shrum to Executive Cabinet and Alma Navarro.
Thursday 12 February 8:53 pm – email from Eric Woomer (USAToday-VTD) to PIO Gutierrez.
Thursday 12 February 9:01 pm – email from Gutierrez to Woomer, response “as soon as possible”. No timetable given.
Thursday 12 February 9:04 pm – email to Shrum and VUSD Board, from Leticia Herrera demanding appropriate action.
Thursday 12 February 9:28 pm – email from Ricky Oaks KSEE24/KGPE47 to Andrew Di Meo requesting info on incident.
Thursday 12 February 10:22 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to Shrum, Di Meo, Thompson, and BOT with media release from Shrum.
Thursday 12 February 10:26 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to “Cabinet” with Shrum social media release.
Thursday 12 February 10:36 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to Dennis Dyke, Jordan Markham, and Edwin Castillon, forwarding the Shrum release.
Thursday 12 February 10:44 pm – email from Walta Gamoian (BOT) to Cristina Gutierrez complementing her on the Shrum release.
Thursday 12 February 10:44 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to Gridiron and Mark Thompson with Shrum media release.
Thursday 12 February 10:49 pm – Principal Gridiron sends statement to Cristina Gutierrez for coordination. This was the first announcement put out by VUSD in Shrum’s name.
Thursday 12 February 10:52 pm – email from Alexa Barba-Tepper to Gridiron and Gutierrez suggesting a release time of 11:05 pm.
Thursday 12 February 10:53 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to Alexa B-T, Gridiron, Mark Thompson advising the Shrum message is for PowerSchool and email only.
Thursday 12 February 10:54 pm – email from Alexa B-T confirms PowerSchool, and email only to “associated guardians”.
Thursday 12 February 10:58 pm – email from Alexa B-T to Gutierrez, Gridiron, and Thompson that her access to the system does not let her send anything out between 9pm and 6am.
Thursday 12 February 11:03 pm – email from Gutierrez to B-T, Gridiron, Thompson acknowledging the time lockout for B-T.
Thursday 12 February 11:06 pm – Shrum forwards the email from Herrera to “executive cabinet”.
Thursday 12 February 11:07 pm – Principal Gridiron sends message to ‘Redwood’ group mail, of Shrum’s announcement. “The District will be supporting the Redwood administration in conducting a thorough investigation…”
Thursday 12 February 11:17 pm – email to Woomer and Sheyanne Romero (VTD) with Shrum media release.
Thursday 12 February Late PM – VUSD posts Community Alert to Facebook. District “supporting the Redwood Administration in conducting a thorough investigation…”
Friday 13 February 6:23 am – Principal Gridiron emails Redwood staff regarding the incident.
Friday (?) 13 February 8:46 am – Principal Gridiron emails Redwood staff regarding an assembly Tuesday for the Senior class to address the issue.
Friday 13 February 10:05 am – email from Cristina Gutierrez to KSEE with initial statement from Shrum.
Friday 13 February 11:31 am – KSEE24/KGEP47 publish an article on the incident.
Friday 13 February 1:41 pm – email from Leticia Herrera to Walta Gamoian (BOT) asking about students selecting punishment from 3 options? Rumor on social media.
Friday 13 February 3:32 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to KSEE saying “This happened in the gym after a senior photo was taken and seniors were dispersing.”
Friday 13 February 4:46 pm – KMPH26 publishes an article on the incident.
Friday 13 February 5:15 pm – email from Gamoian to Herrera saying “that is not true. The District is meeting with the students and their parents.”
Friday 13 February 7:59 pm – email from Cristina Gutierrez to BOT, Shrum, Di Meo, Thompson with social media release, “Following a thorough investigation…”
Friday 13 February unkn time – Facebook “Community Alert”, (1st public post) “Following a thorough investigation…”
Friday 13 February 10:31 pm – The Visalia Times Delta publishes an article on the incident.
Saturday 14 February 8:34 am – email from Matthew Cervantes to Di Meo urging “investigate this incident swiftly…” Di Meo forwards it to Natali Garza.
Saturday 14 February 8:56 am – email from Molly Harman to Gridiron, Frankland, Shannon Moore, Alexa B-T, Elizabeth Vaca, Brittney Valencia, Michael Wright, and Di Meo, demanding response and informing that ACLU has been advised.
Saturday 14 February 9:59 am – Tracy Spradlin emails Walt Gamoian (and apparently all BOT members), urging action.
Saturday 14 February 10:38 am – Gamoian responds to Spradlin’s email with the Community Alert text.
Saturday 14 February 11:41 am – The Fresno Bee publishes an article about the incident.
Saturday 14 February 11:54 am – email from Alicia Schultz to Gridiron and others – urging action to protect students.
Saturday 14 February 12:49 pm – Doug Wright comments to apparently the entire Board, about the two students bullied.
Saturday 14 February 1:18 pm – email from Gamoian to Wright with Community Alert text.
Saturday 14 February 1:21 pm – email from Gamoian to Schultz with Community Alert text.
Saturday 14 February 1:31 pm – email from Kimkamis1 to VUSD, urging punishment.
Saturday 14 February 1:37 pm – email from Gamoian to Kimkamsi1 with Community Alert text.
Saturday 14 February 2:34 pm – email from Kimberly Trent to BOT urging an investigation and discipline.
Saturday 14 February 2:45 pm – email from Gamoian to Trent with Community Alert.
Saturday 14 February 4:46 pm – email from M Melhorn to BOT Terri Martindale, Gridiron, with subject line “These kids represent your school – you must be so proud” included was the Facebook Community Alert posts.
Saturday 14 February 6:02 pm – Yahoo News publishes an article about the incident.
Saturday 14 February 6:09 pm – email from Paul Belt to Melhorn, sending the same Community Alert posts back to Melhorn.
Saturday 14 February 10:19 pm – The San Francisco Chronicle publishes an article on the incident.
Sunday 15 February (unkn) – Q Voice News publishes an article on the incident.
Sunday 15 February 11:58 am – The California Post publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February (unkn) – instinct magazine publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February (unkn) – NewsBreak publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February (unkn) – Blaze Media publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February 7:07 am – The Daily Caller publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February 7:50 am – Total Pro Sports publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February 8:07 am – Yahoo News publishes a KFSN30 article on the incident.
Monday 16 February 10:52 am – The Visalia Times Delta publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February 5:56(ET) pm – The New York Post publishes an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February 6:37 pm – KSEE24/KGEP47 publish an article on the incident.
Monday 16 February (unkn) – The (San Joaquin Valley) Sun publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February (unkn) – Superintendent Shrum (VUSD staff) releases social media announcement “as we continue our investigation”.
Wednesday 17 February 10:40 am – LGBTQ Nation publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 12:31 pm – KTLA publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 12:24 pm – EdSource publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 4:05 pm – Sun Gazette newspaper publishes “The Source responds to hate speech at Redwood High”
Wednesday 17 February 4:08 pm – Cristina Gutierrez of VUSD tells Maria Ortiz-Briones of the Fresno Bee that “this is an ongoing investigation”.
Wednesday 17 February 4:14 pm – Paul Belt emails Cristina Gutierrez that the posting of Shrum’s release has received over 28,000 views on his Facebook post.
Wednesday 17 February 6:26 pm – The Fresno Bee publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 6:26 pm – Yahoo News publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 7:39 pm – KSEE24/KGEP47 publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 8:09 pm – Patch publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February (unkn) – The Hanford Sentinel publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February (unkn) – ThePrideLA publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 10:14 pm – KMPH26 publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 17 February 10:46 pm – The Hindustan Times publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 18 February 3:38 pm – Calvin Feehan sends his account of the incident to Chris Frankland, Natali Garza, Patrick Hemphill, Brandon Gridiron, Alexa Barba-Tepper.
Wednesday 18 February (unkn) – KFSN30 publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 18 February (unkn) – Hollywood Unlocked publishes an article on the incident.
Thursday 19 February 12:00 am – The Valley Voice publishes a letter to the editor regarding the incident.
Thursday 19 February (unkn) – The Source LGBT+ Center publishes an statement about the incident.
Thursday 19 February (unkn) – Pink News publishes an article on the incident.
Friday 20 February 7:33 am – Principal Gridiron emails all Redwood students about “respect, accountability, pride”
Friday 20 February 9:00 am – Shrum texts (unknown), responding to a text message asking if the investigation is still ongoing. Shrum responds “Yes for all intents and purposes we are complete”
Friday 20 February 2:25 pm – The Fresno Bee publishes an article on the incident.
Friday 20 February 4:54 pm – email from Shrum to BOT, Cabinet, Di Meo, C Gutierrez, Lesha Weatherford, “Boardline” – Shrum advises he was at Redwood on Tuesday, and will meet next week with local community leaders.
Friday 20 February 5:34 pm – Chris Frankland tells unknown text recipient that “Tina and Joe” from “Essence”, and Alex (last unkn), and Calvin Feehan were in the room at the time.
Friday 20 February (unkn) – Your Ex (New Zealand) publishes an article on the incident.
Sunday 22 February (unkn) – Edge Media Network publishes an article on the incident.
Sunday 22 February 6:15 pm – email from Lupita Magana to Gridiron about reports her daughter told her students were threatened with suspension or expulsion if they talked about the situation or posted about it.
Sunday 22 February 8:26 pm – email from Gridiron to Magana apologizing “if there was any miscommunication or misunderstanding” during the assembly. He did not specifically deny the allegations.
Tuesday 24 February (unkn) – The Hanford Sentinel publishes an article on the incident.
Tuesday 24 February 1:03 pm – The Fresno Bee publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 25 February 11:11 pm – KSEE24/KGEP47 publishes an article on the incident.
Thursday 26 February (unkn) – KFSN30 Published an article on the incident.
Friday 27 February 1:12 pm – Shrum is invited to speak at GSA meeting during a lunch meeting, ‘next Wednesday from 12:40 to 1:20’. He agrees.
Monday 2 March 2:58 pm – The Fresno Bee publishes an article on the incident.
Friday 6 March 11:09 pm – KSEE24/KGEP47 publishes an article on the incident.
Tuesday 10 March 5:30 pm – Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting. At least 19 speakers on the incident.
Wednesday 11 March (unkn) – The Valley Voice publishes an article on the incident.
Wednesday 11 March 6:08 pm – The Fresno Bee publishes an article on the incident.
Thursday 12 March 1:41 am – Cristina Gutierrez emails responses to questions from the Sun Gazette.
Friday 13 March 5:00 pm – The Sun Gazette newspaper publishes “Public presses VUSD for response on homophobic slur display”
Tuesday 17 March (unkn) – The Hanford Sentinel publishes an article on the incident.
Tuesday 14 April 5:30 pm – Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting. At least 6 speakers on the incident.
Tuesday 12 May 5:30 pm – Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting. At least 8 speakers on the incident.
Tuesday 9 June 5:30 pm – Visalia Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting. At least 1 speaker on the incident.
Saturday 18 July 7:39 pm – The Pink Times publishes an article on the incident.

Articles:
Feb 20 – Redwood student writes: One Nation under God, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice
for All? (Our Valley Voice)
Feb 19-20: School criticized for ‘slap on the wrist’ punishment after students wore T-shirts with
anti-gay slur (ThePinkNews) (Lavendar Magazine)
Feb 18 – VUSD moves forward with next steps of facilities plan (The Sun-Gazette)
Feb 17-19: Visalia Unified Vows Accountability After Homophobic Slur Photo Incident (Lavendar
Magazine) (Sacramento Bee) (Modesto Bee) (Fresno Bee) (The Merced Sun Star) (The San
Luis Obispo Tribune)
Feb 17 – Distrito Unificado de Visalia promete responsabilidad tras incidente de foto con
insultos homofóbicos (Fresno Bee)
Feb 17 – Students Disciplined for Slur in Visalia District (Visalia Times Delta)
Feb 16 – Visalia Unified probing senior picture featuring slur (San Joaquin Valley Sun) (NY Post)
Feb 13 – Some Redwood ASB Students Under investigation after homophobic scene (Visalia
Times Delta)
Feb 25 – Visalia Unified hosts community roundtable to address homophobic slur (KSEE24)
Feb 25 – Conversation about Homophobic Slur Photo (ABC30)

So there’s what I have. After months of waiting, and two data dumps, VUSD considers my Public Records Act request satisfied.

2026-07-23_final_Correspondence to Jim Reeves Download

JimmieJoe / KC6YRU