The Facts About the Controversy Over MCPS Opt-Out Policy

REVISED JULY 1, 2023

There has been a lot of coverage of the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, particularly the demonstration outside but also of the Public Comments testimony regarding MCPS's opt-out policy.  See, e.g., here and here.

A few clarifications are necessary to correct some significant misconceptions in the public discourse: 

1.  MCPS never had a policy that gave parents the right to have their children opt-out of reading lessons using books that included people with LGBTQ+ identities.  Some school staff thought that because opt-outs are permitted regarding the Family Life and Human Sexuality unit of the Health Curriculum, and some types of "reasonable and feasible adjustments to the instructional programs to accommodate requests . . .  to be excused from specific discussions or activities" on religious grounds could be made, parents could receive an opt-out for these reading lessons.  Some parents understood that such an opt-out was mandated, even if MCPS determined that the requests were not “reasonable and feasible.”  This misunderstanding was quickly clarified by MCPS.  But some parents took that clarification as a change in MCPS policy, and concluded that they were being singled-out for based on their religious beliefs, even though that was not the case.          

2.  Contrary to statements from people supporting opt-outs, none of the books at issue included discussions or demonstrations of sexual conduct of any sort.  The concern that somehow the books "sexualize" children is incorrect.  As MCPS Parent Jocelyn Guyer explained yesterday, "The book Prince and Knight is no more about gay sex than Cinderella and Snow White are about heterosexual sex."

3.  MCPS is intentionally taking inclusionary steps for a whole range of people of diverse backgrounds and identities -- and that is a good thing.  No one should feel that they do not belong in our classrooms.  The books at issue do not teach students to become LGBTQ+.  Rather, like all MCPS materials focused on traditionally marginalized groups, they simply demonstrate the wide range of identities that make up our diverse community.  They do convey inclusion and kindness.  

4.   On the other hand, close examination of the Complaint filed on behalf of three parents by the Becket Religious Liberty Fund shows that the mission of the Complaint is to delegitimize LGBTQ+ people. The Becket Fund not only falsely claims that the books are part of a sexual education curriculum, but makes unfounded assertions about the validity of the concerns that have led MCPS to be inclusive of LGBTQ+ people. Specifically, Paragraphs 142-148 of the Complaint press arguments diametrically opposed to the wisdom of every mainstream American medical and mental health professional association (including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association) regarding sexual orientation and gender identity: Indeed, the Complaint relies, for example, on the so-called American College of Pediatricians (ACP), an ideological, not a truly medical, group. See here and here. Further, the Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed the ACP to be an ideological “hate group.”  

5.  If students could be opted out of such lessons, then there would be no rational basis for not offering opt-outs for lessons that also embrace other groups -- for example, immigrants and faith groups -- as well as for classes and concepts that aren't aligned with families' beliefs.  Consider the ramifications of allowing opt-outs any time a parent objected to their students' exposure, for example, to the teaching of evolution in biology classes.  Or the teaching the accurate history of slavery in America.  Or the contributions of recent immigrants to our country.

6.  If an opt-out were limited to lessons that were LGBTQ+ affirming, that would particularly and uniquely stigmatize LGBTQ+ families and their families -- precisely what wise MCPS policies is intended to combat.  

7.  It would be a shame if some parents left MCPS over this issue. But we cannot sacrifice the well-being of our student body as a whole by conveying a message that it is OK to marginalize some groups of people.

I suggest that people listen to the Public Comments testimony from supporters of the MCPS policy.  The entirety of the Public Comments, which were live-streamed yesterday, may be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qor9dXgPx4 

Testimony from Co-Founder of the Coalition for Inclusive Schools and Communities Laura Stewart begins at 35:02.

MCPS Parent Jocelyn Guyer's begins at 51:53.

MCPS Parent, Graduate, and Gay Man Jeffrey Ganz's begins at 54:02.

MCPS Parent and Graduate Brigid Howe's begins at 59:10.

MCPS Graduate and Student Activist Michael Solomon's testimony presenting the Letter of Support from the Coalition for Inclusive Schools and Communities (thus far signed by more than 2,500 people) begins at 1:06:08.

MCEA President Jennifer Martin's begins at 1:08:21.

MCPS Parent Jennifer Braverman's begins at 1:10:23. 

I have joined the Coalition for Inclusive Schools and Communities.  Please consider signing on to our letter, which may be found at https://tinyurl.com/InclsvSchl.