Baltimore Banner Chooses to Rehabilitate Alleged Groomer
Nobody asked the Banner to rehabilitate former Anne Arundel County school teacher "Billie" Hoard. But they did anyway.
The Baltimore Banner decided to try and rehabilitate the reputation of disgraced former Anne Arundel County Willa “Billie” Hoard.
The “news story” by Banner reporter Royale Bonds titled “Fleeing hate: Trans teacher finds peace in Baltimore after receiving threats in Anne Arundel” reads more like a hagiography of a conquering hero than somebody credibly accused of grooming children in his classroom.
The paper glossed over the story of Hoard’s controversial suspension from Chesapeake High School in 2022:
In October 2022, Hoard said she was placed on suspension after parents complained that she was inappropriate with students during her time as leader of the school’s LGBTQ club.
Hoard denied any inappropriate interactions with students, but said she did improperly use Instagram to communicate with some. She then faced more online attacks.
The Duckpin reported on Hoard’s suspension when it happened:
A parent has alleged that Hoard, advisor to the Gay Straight Alliance, was grooming their child.
Hoard has also allegedly participated in a Discord server with other current students at Chesapeake.
Videos also surfaced of alleged bizarre activities occurring in Gay Straight Alliance meetings under Hoard’s purview. But again, none of this gets mentioned by Bonds who instead wants to focus on how much Anne Arundel County hated him.
Nothing justifies much of the behavior directed at Hoard. But nothing justifies Hoard’s alleged behavior in Anne Arundel County either. That The Banner chose to whitewash Hoard’s time in Anne Arundel County and to try and rehabilitate his image in this way shows just how uncommitted the Baltimore Banner is to actual journalism and how The Banner remains little more than political activism while hiding behind a 501c3 tax exemption.
The Banner and Royale Bonds should be ashamed of themselves, but we know that the paper and its staff leadership are incapable of shame.