Montgomery County parents protest literacy lessons on gender and LGBTQ+ issues

Hundreds of parents gathered outside the Montgomery County School Board meeting Tuesday to protest a policy that doesn’t allow students to opt out of lessons on gender and LGBTQ+ issues, which many families argue goes against their religious freedom.

Montgomery County Public Schools announced in March all students would be required to participate in the lessons with no option to opt out.

“I want to be an advocate for my kids,” said Belinda Aggiyem, a mother of three MCPS students. “What they are imposing on them will not help them.”

“It should be the parents’ right,” said Mark Haile, the father of three MCPS students. “Parents should discuss with their kids to decide what they learn.”

A Maryland law allows parents to opt their kids out of sex education. Many parents say they should also be able to opt their children out of lessons that involve supplemental texts on LGBTQ+ issues. They say MCPS is violating their First Amendment freedoms.

“We are religious; we have rights as Americans,” said Adon Gedie, mother of a kindergartener. “Our kids have right to raise as a kid. They are not big enough to accept everything.”

In a statement, a representative for the school district said in part: “Students and families may not choose to opt out of engaging with any instructional materials, other than 'Family Life and Human Sexuality Unit of Instruction,' which is specifically permitted by Maryland law. As such, teachers will not send home letters to inform families when inclusive books are read in the future.”

Counter protesters believe lessons on gender and sexuality should be required. They say if families are allowed to opt out, it could set a precedent.

“Any parent could ultimately pull their kid out of anything,” said David Fishback, Maryland advocacy chair for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). “If kids get pulled out of classes when that gets discussed, then that stigmatizes those kids.”

Counter protesters also say the lessons are not sexual in nature but instead talk about the importance of being inclusive.

“The books geared to younger kids are just showing a diverse range of families,” said Christina Celenza, mother of an MCPS student. “We have a two-mom household, so my wife and I are really proud and out, and, of course, my kid in kindergarten or pre-K is going to probably talk about his family and his two moms.”

A document containing the texts approved for instructional use can be found here.

The school board discussed the opt-out policy at its meeting Tuesday night, but that meeting was closed to the public with MCPS citing the large amount of interest and safety measures. Still, hundreds gathered and some tried to push their way inside.

The full MCPS statement in response reads:

MCPS expects all classrooms to be inclusive and safe spaces for students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have family members in the LGBTQ+ community. A broad representation of personal characteristics within curricular or instructional materials promotes this desired outcome. Therefore, as with all curriculum resources, there is an expectation that teachers utilize these inclusive lessons and texts with all students.

As is standard practice, when planning for instruction teachers/schools are encouraged to utilize a variety of resources to continue to promote an inclusive environment as outlined in the MCPS Core Values and Board Policy. Students and families may not choose to opt out of engaging with any instructional materials, other than “Family Life and Human Sexuality Unit of Instruction'' which is specifically permitted by Maryland law.  As such, teachers will not send home letters to inform families when inclusive books are read in the future.

Three families are suing the school system over some of the materials. Representatives for MCPS have not commented because the litigation is pending.