In recent years, the Montgomery County Public Schools system (MCPS) has made great progress with respect to LGBTQ matters. MCPS policy, of course, is set by the Montgomery County Board of Education. Below is the Questionnaire that the Metro DC Chapter of PFLAG sent to all 2022 candidates for the Board of Education. Scroll down for the answers provided by District 1 Candidates, in alphabetical order, Jay Guan, Grace Rivera-Oven, and Esther Wells. Candidate Alex Fahmy did not submit any responses. (Answers from the At-Large, District 3, and District 5 candidates may be found here, here, and here.) For those seeking more context, I suggest checking out the links provided in the Questionnaire itself.
NOTE: In the July 19 primary election, the top two vote-getters move on to the general election in November. Voters may vote in all the contests, regardless of where in the County they live.
David S. Fishback, Co-Chair for Maryland Advocacy
Metro DC Chapter of PFLAG
Dear XXXXX:
For many years, the Metro DC Chapter of PFLAG has worked cooperatively with MCPS and the Board of Education to work foster a positive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, and Gender Non-Conforming students.
In order to inform our members and supporters of the viewpoints of the candidates running to serve on the Board of Education, we respectfully request that you answer the five brief questions pasted below. In order to provide a context, we include background materials. As a 501(c)(3) organization, we will not be endorsing candidates for office, but we will pass along your answers, and anything else you would like to let us know, to our members and supporters.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Thank you,
David S. Fishback, Maryland Advocacy Co-Chair
Metro DC PFLAG
cc: Mark Eckstein, Maryland Advocacy Co-Chair, Metro DC PFLAG
1. HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM
Background
The secondary school Family Life and Human Sexuality curriculum provides that with respect to matters of sexual orientation and gender identity, the lessons are not “scripted” (as they were prior to 2014), but rather that “instructional planning resources [are] developed similar to all other content areas, including sample learning tasks, suggested instructional resources, and teacher guidance (e.g., the American Psychological Association’s Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation & Homosexuality, available at http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/orientation.pdf. This shift permits teachers to plan instruction based on the specific needs of their students, as they do in all other content areas.” See https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/c4cf1644198dfd9986257503000d636f/4e99ac91837305c887257cd1006d30ed/$FILE/6%201%20Sec%20Health%20Ed%20Curr%20Framework.pdf (pp. 5-6), adopted by the Board of Education on June 17, 2014.
Question
What is your position on the inclusion of information from mainstream American medical and mental health professional associations in the MCPS health education curriculum?
2. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
Background
MCPS guidelines and regulations make it very clear that the Board of Education “expects all students and staff to conduct themselves in a manner that demonstrates mutual respect without regard to an individual’s actual or perceived personal characteristics, such as . . . gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, [and] family/parental status.” See, for example, A Student’s Guide to Rights and Responsibilities, 2021-22 and Employee Code of Conduct, 2021-22.
With respect to gender identity and expression, MCPS provides specific Guidelines. See Guidelines Regarding Student Gender Identity, 2021-22
Question
What is your view of MCPS anti-discrimination policies with respect to LGBTQ students and employees?
3. SUPPORT FOR LGBTQ STUDENTS
Background
On February 4, 2020, the Board of Education’s Committee on Special Populations reviewed its Support for LGBTQ Students Update. This review included discussion of MCPS initiatives for support of LGBTQ Students.
Question
What is your view of the initiatives announced in February 2020?
4. SCHOOL NAMING
Background
In 2018, the Board of Education decided to name the new Richard Montgomery Cluster Elementary School after Bayard Rustin, a gay African American civil rights activist who was instrumental to organizing the 1963 March of Washington, which became the platform for Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/Bayard-Rustin.aspx
Question
What is your view of the naming of Bayard Rustin Elementary School?
5. ATTEMPTS TO BAR DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR GENDER EXPRESSION.
Background
In some parts of the country, efforts are being made to prohibit public schools from discussing or even mentioning sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. See, for example, https://www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079541236/florida-dont-say-gay-bill and https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2022/02/09/pete-buttigieg-florida-dont-say-gay-bill-lgbtq-youth-impact-nr-vpx.cnn
Question
What is your view of these efforts?
6. IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, PLEASE DO SO.
CANDIDATE RESPONSES:
Jay Guan
1. What is your position on the inclusion of information from mainstream American medical and mental health professional associations in the MCPS health education curriculum?
Yes. I support their inclusion in MCPS health Education curriculum. We should always strive to include the most up-to-date, relevant materials from credible professional organizations in our Health Education curriculum.
I think it is essential to include these medical and mental health professional associations as guidelines to inform, educate, and support all our students who are LGBTQ+ or gender non-conforming.
2. What is your view of MCPS anti-discrimination policies with respect to LGBTQ students and employees?
My view is that they are inclusive so that neither staff nor students feel discriminated against based on their gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexuality. Schools must foster a welcoming environment for all children. Our educational focus must be on our students thriving, feeling supported, and included. Any discriminatory practices and actions must be addressed and disbanded for the safety of our staff and students. I agree with the current policies and will make sure they are upheld, implemented, and improved if needed.
3. What is your view of the initiatives announced in February 2020?
I think the initiatives are great, but I also think we need to include language accessibility to LGBTQ students who have nontraditional backgrounds. For example, our immigrant students who are simultaneously dealing with challenges as minorities in addition to LGBTQ self-identity and gender identity. That kind of support must be implemented in a culturally- and linguistically-comprehensive way. I did not see that in the recommendations, focus groups, nor student voices. Seeing that PFLAG has already implemented such accessible material for non-english speakers, I would like to work further with PFLAG and implement a model like this as a future MCPS initiative.
4. What is your view of the naming of the Bayard Rustin Elementary School?
I think it is long-overdue that we incorporate Americans who left a thumbprint in history, especially in the Civil Rights movement, where the LGBTQ+ community at the time had a large presence and was integral to the movement. Mr. Bayard Rustin was a great believer in nonviolence at a time when it was not welcomed to be openly gay. He stayed true to his identity. It is important for our students to see themselves reflected in role models like Mr. Rustin. Therefore, I applaud the efforts to commemorate him with the Bayard Rustin Elementary School. It is a sign that all children are welcome in MCPS.
5. What is your view of ["Don't Say Gay"] efforts?
Around the country, there are many efforts to erase populations that are nontraditional, look differently, or identify differently, especially when it concerns gender and sexuality. Our job as educators is to educate without ignorance, while protecting and uplifting students in a nondiscriminatory way. We cannot allow the infiltration of views and practices that take away the agency and rights of students who identify as LGBTQ+. I am acutely aware of the damage these sentiments have had on our children and youth. The data shows an increase in suicidal thoughts within the LGBTQ+ community, especially for black and brown students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. This is completely unacceptable and these precedents cannot have any place in MCPS. I will ensure that these negative efforts that are plaguing our country do not affect our MCPS population.
6. IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, PLEASE DO SO.
As someone who has mentored hundreds of youths, ran an after-school program, and worked extensively in minority communities who have not been supported by their families or communities, I have personally seen the human toll that discriminatory rejection takes on our young people in an emotional and physical way. I stand with and advocate for any child or young adult who wants to express their identity and be themselves, and I will be an advocate and a voice for students, staff, and families if elected to the Montgomery County Board of Education.
1. What is your position on the inclusion of information from mainstream American medical and mental health professional associations in the MCPS health education curriculum?
I support health education as part of our curriculum, and information included from medical and mental health professional associations. As a parent of a child with a disability, it is vitally important that all aspects of our curriculum be delivered to the students of MCPS, especially health related information. Our health education curriculum should be regularly reviewed by all stakeholders and updated accordingly to ensure they are age appropriate and relevant.
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