VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A photograph showing students from a Visalia Unified high school spelling out a homophobic slur with letters on their shirts "is not a harmless joke," according to The Source LGBT+ Center in Visalia. The outrage is matched by the Visalia Unified School District, whi ch says it is investigating at least 10 students who took part in the stunt. "This is deeply concerning behavior and not behavior that the community or the school will support," stated Natali Garza, Visalia Unified's Executive Director of Student Services. On Thursday, the senior class took its class photo. The front row of students wore white shirts with black letters and numbers, initially spelling out "Always legit, Class of 2026." Stabbing at Antioch hotel leaves man critically injured But afterwards, a group decided to take a separate photo spelling out the inappropriate word. The image had been circulating on social media and was sent to YourCentralValley.com on Thursday evening. It shows young people, both male and female, sitting next to each other on a bleacher. They are each wearing white shirts with letters and numbers on them, and the group has arranged themselves to spell out the homophobic slur (although the letter “g” has been substituted for the number “6”). The image can be seen below. YourCentralValley.com has blurred the picture above to protect the identities of the minors involved. In a statement sent Friday afternoon, The Source LGBT+ Center Visalia described the picture as deeply disturbing, and that it "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. The Source LGBT+ Center "I don't know what the students' motives were, but I know what the impact is," shared Erika Hawkyard, Director of Programs at The Source, an LGBT+ Center in Visalia.  Hawkyard says since the photo was taken, they have had several students reaching out, saying they feel unsafe at school. "That has huge impacts, not only on academic performance, but also increases isolation, depression, anxiety, and also increases suicidal ideation." Visalia Unified says some of these students are a part of the organization, ASB or Associated Student Body. A parent of one of the students in the photo anonymously reached out to YourCentralValley.com, saying that the students are remorseful - and did not mean to hurt anyone. They went on to say the students are receiving threats. "Let the parents of these kids discipline them not the world." In a later update Friday evening, Visalia Unified announced they have taken "appropriate disciplinary action" against the students seen spelling the "hateful" homophobic slur. ...read more read less