Bet Mishpachah -- March 10, 2023

Bet Mish posted the video of my presentation: 

https://fb.watch/jp-SP69eEM/

Play Ball!! May the Gods and Goddesses Be With Us.

My high school friend Ray Goldstein is a fellow baseball fan.  For half a century, he has lived in San Francisco, so his allegiance with with the Giants.  That is fine with me, since my first baseball love was my father's New York Giants (and Willie Mays) -- a love which was transferred to the West Coast, even though the only time I saw the San Francisco Giants play in person was a game against the Mets in the old Polo Grounds in 1962.  (Growing up in DC, it was hard to love the Washington Senators of the 1950s, who resisted signing Black ballplayers and who never got out of second division.)

With 2023 Opening Day coming soon, Ray sent these pictures.  With his permission, I post them here.  Play Ball!  (Glad that the infielders now must start each play where God, or Abner Doubleday, or whoever, intended them to be.  The time clock for pitchers, well, we shall see.)  

Twenty Years Since the Beginning of the War in Iraq

 

This piece in today's New York Times (20 Years On, a Question Lingers About Iraq: Why Did the U.S. Invade?) is a charitable explanation of an invasion that has triggered a series of tragedies that continue to this day. It may be as fair an analysis as is possible. At least, I think, the Biden Administration is cognizant of past errors, but is not paralyzed by them. This may be the best we can hope for.

On this 20th anniversary of the invasion, I have a vivid memory of that night. As a Department of Justice Attorney, I was in Fort Leonard Wood in the middle of Missouri, where the U.S. Chemical Command kept classified documents from World War I. I was there reviewing documents that might have been pertinent to contamination found in soils around American University in D.C., where chemical warfare experiments were centered and mostly forgotten once that War ended.

I was having dinner in a bar/restaurant on base (NOT, the Officers Club). A big screen television was carrying the events live. I watched silently. The only other person watching, also in silence, was a soldier who looked to be in his late 30s or 40s. All of the other customers were much younger soldiers, who drank, laughed, and played pool, completely ignoring the television. I did not know what to make of the scene, and, as an outsider, I did not want to intrude by asking. I still do not know what to make of it. I only know that the ensuing years were a disaster, and that people all over the world are paying the price.

Curriculum Victory in Montgomery County, MD: A Case Study and Handbook for Action (Revised edition with Epilogue)

In 2015, I presented Curriculum Victory in Montgomery County, Maryland: A Case Study and Handbook for Action, which was published on the PFLAG National Website.  https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2015/11/successful-public-school-lgbt.html  

Over the years, many of the hyperlinks disappeared.  With the assistance of PFLAG National, Metro DC PFLAG Board Member Kira Prin, Metro DC Co-Chair for Maryland Advocacy Mark Eckstein, and Teachthefacts.org co-founder Jim Kennedy, we are now publishing a revised edition of the 2015 Handbook, which adds an Epilogue taking us through the present day.   It may be found here:  http://pflagdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Curriculum-Victory-in-Montgomery-County-vf-2023.docx.pdf  

All of us at PFLAG hope it will continue to be a useful resource.

PFLAG-related blog posts, 2012-2023

Friday, August 4, 2023, MoCo LGBTQ+ opt-out debate should focus on facts, not misrepresentations          https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2023/09/moco360-opinion-moco-lgbtq-opt-out.html 

https://moco360.media/2023/08/04/moco-lgbtq-opt-out-debate-must-focus-on-facts/

Tuesday, July 11, 2023, We Can't Opt-Out of Diversity in Our Schools and Communities, from Maryland Matters

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2023/07/maryland-matters-commentary-we-cant-opt.html

https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/07/11/commentary-we-cant-opt-out-of-diversity-in-our-schools-and-communities/

Friday, March 10, 2023 Presentation at Bet Mishpachah  

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2023/03/bet-mishpachah-march-10-2023.html

Tuesday, February 21, 2023 Curriculum Victory in Montgomery County, MD: A Case Study and Handbook for Action (Revised edition with Epilogue)

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2023/02/curriculum-victory-in-montgomery-county.html and here. 

Thursday, October 27, 2022 Observation on last night's Board of Education Candidates' Forum

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2022/10/observation-on-last-night-board-of.html

Saturday, August 20, 2022 Protecting Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students: Major Court Victory Protecting Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2022/08/protecting-transgender-and-gender-non.html

 

Saturday, May 7, 2022 Metro DC PFLAG Montgomery County, Maryland, Board of Education Candidate Questionnaires - 2022 https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2022/05/metro-dc-pflag-montgomery-county_33.html

Thursday, December 31, 2020 Follow up to "Fomenting Fear and Division in Montgomery County" (May 2020)

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2020/12/follow-up-to-fomenting-fear-and.html

 

Thursday, July 2, 2020 What the Supreme Court's Bostock decision means for the ACA -- and what the dissents signal for progress.

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2020/07/what-supreme-courts-bostock-decision.html

 

Saturday, May 23, 2020 My perspectives on the 2020 Montgomery County Board of Education election primary

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2020/05/my-perspectives-on-2020-montgomery.html

 

Sunday, May 3, 2020 Fomenting Fear and Division in Montgomery County, from Maryland Matters, May 1,2020

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2020/05/fomenting-fear-and-division-in.html

Sunday, March 22, 2020 Metro DC PFLAG Montgomery County At-Large BOE Candidate Questionnaire Answers

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2020/03/metro-dc-pflag-montgomery-county-at_22.html

Sunday, March 22, 2020Metro DC PFLAG Montgomery County District 2 and 4 BOE Candidate Questionnaire Answers

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2020/03/metro-dc-pflag-montgomery-county.html

Monday, September 2, 2019

Resources: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Matters in the Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools (2019)

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2019/09/resources-sexual-orientation-and-gender.html

Monday, May 13, 2019

Maryland PFLAG Chapters' Letter to Gov. Larry Hogan Urging Action to Protect Transgender Maryland National Guard Service Members and Recruits

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2019/05/maryland-pflag-chapters-letter-to-gov.html

Friday, April 12, 2019

Thoughts on the current exchanges between Pete Buttigieg and Mike Pence

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2019/04/thoughts-on-current-exchanges-between.html

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Metro DC PFLAG Montgomery County At-Large BOE Candidate Questionnaire Answers

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/05/metro-dc-pflag-montgomery-county-at.html

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Metro DC PFLAG Montgomery County District 1, 3, and 5 BOE Candidate Questionnaire Answers

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/05/metro-dc-pflag-montgomery-county.html

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Principals, Allies, and Advocacy

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/05/principals-allies-and-advocacy_8.html

Monday, April 16, 2018

Thank you note to the Montgomery County Board of Education

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/04/thank-you-note-to-montgomery-county.html

Saturday, April 14, 2018

New Elementary School in Montgomery County (MD) named after Bayard Rustin

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/04/new-elementary-school-in-montgomery.html

Friday, April 13, 2018

Transgender teen navigates a path to acceptance

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/04/transgender-teen-navigates-path-to.html

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Temple Emanuel Brit Olam Letter to MCPS

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/03/temple-emanuel-brit-olam-letter-to-mcps.html

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Testimony on HB 13 in the Maryland House of Delegates

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2018/02/testimony-on-hb-13-in-maryland-house-of.html

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Transgender Day of Remembrance Interfaith Service and the Spiritual Journey of a Fine Woman

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/11/transgender-day-of-remembrance.html

Friday, October 13, 2017

President Trump speaks to hate group

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/10/president-trump-speaks-to-hate-group.html

Monday, October 9, 2017

"She became a warrior, a true champion for the rights of GLBT people everywhere."

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/10/she-became-warrior-true-champion-for_15.html

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Presentation at the Communities United Against Hate School Conference, October 7, 2017

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/10/presentation-at-cuah-school-conference.html

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

What is the true motivation for the Trump Administration's vote against the UN resolution condemning the use of the death penalty against people for being LGBT?

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/10/what-is-true-motivation-for-trump.html

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Jesus Chavez, July 2017. Thank you.

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/07/jesus-chavez-july-2017-thank-you.html

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Silver Linings, Dark Clouds, and Hypocrisy: DOJ Pride at the Department of Justice

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/06/silver-linings-dark-clouds-and_29.html

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Grassroots victory on Transgender Rights in Frederick County, MD

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/06/grassroots-victory-on-transgender.html

Monday, April 10, 2017

Nomination of Robert Rigby, Jr. for NBC Out's Inaugural Pride 30 List

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/04/nomination-of-robert-rigby-jr-for-nbc.html

Thursday, March 30, 2017

A gut-check for the NCAA and others.

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/03/a-gut-check-for-ncaa-and-others.html

Monday, March 27, 2017

Recap and Resources: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Matters in the Montgomery County Public Schools

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/03/recap-and-resources-sexual-orientation.html

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

TRANSGENDER STUDENTS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY: YOUR RIGHTS IN MCPS HAVE NOT CHANGED.

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/02/transgender-students-in-montgomery.html

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Metro DC PFLAG on WPFW's Inside Out program

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/02/metro-dc-pflag-on-wpfws-inside-out.html

Thursday, January 12, 2017

"We are enraged, but engaged": Views from the PFLAG/LGBT Community in the face of the incoming Trump Administration

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/01/we-are-enraged-but-engaged-views-from.html

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Life Goes On: Advocacy for LGBTQ Youth

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2016/12/life-goes-on-advocacy-for-lgbtq-youth.html

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Heschel Vision Award: Jews United for Justice, October 25, 2015

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2015/12/heschel-vision-award-jews-united-for.html

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Successful Public School LGBT Curriculum Advocacy

http://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2015/11/successful-public-school-lgbt.html

https://www.pflag.org/blog/curriculumvictorymontgomerycounty

https://www.pflag.org/sites/default/files/Curriculum%20Victory%20in%20Montgomery%20County%202.pdf

October 12, 2012

Letter to the Gazette, Oct. 17, 2012 ("Lee column sets up a false divide on Civil Marriage Equality")

https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2019/09/letter-to-gazette-oct-17-2012-lee.html

Washington Examiner article, 2/7/12

 

Starr: Fliers calling homosexuality 

a choice are "reprehensible" but

schools must distribute

by Lisa Gartner

 February 07, 2012 12:00 AM

Opinion

Nicola Sturgeon couldn't square the circle of gender ideology, and neither can anyone else

By: David Freddoso

Biden's NTSB says that Pete Buttigieg spread disinformation about East Palestine; he needs to go

By: David Freddoso

Biden's accidental endorsement of school choice reveals the deep rot in public education

By: David Freddoso

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Montgomery County Superintendent Joshua Starr called fliers sent home with students

 Montgomery County Superintendent Joshua Starr called fliers sent home with students 

last week that said being gay is a choice are "reprehensible and deplorable."

But Starr told Wootton High School students on Tuesday that the fliers will keep coming, 

as he was legally bound to allow Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays to distribute 

fliers to students.

     "We can’t really do much about it unless we wanted to cut off all flier distribution, which

is an option," Starr said at a Student Town Hall. "This group has figured out how to use that

 law to spread what I find to be a really, really disgusting message, frankly."

Sent home with students at several high schools last week, including Albert Einstein in 

Kensington, the PFOX fliers say, "No 'gay gene' or gay center of the brain has been found."

A "growing scientific consensus" says that sexual orientation is innate and immutable, 

the U.S. Attorney General has advised Congress.

     But Montgomery County Public Schools must allow nonprofit organizations to distribute

their messages four times a year.  In 2006, a federal appeals court told MCPS that its 

policy of choosing which fliers to distribute was unconstitutional, after the school system 

tried to block messages from Child Evangelist Fellowship of Maryland. 

     The three-judge panel wrote that letting MCPS pick and choose gave it "unlimited 

discretion."

     The Washington Post reported in February 2010 that PFOX sent home fliers that said 

"every year thousands of people with unwanted same-sex attractions make the 

personal decision to leave a gay identity" alongside report cards at Winston Churchill

High School in Potomac.

     Regina Griggs, director of PFOX, said that "no one's telling anybody that they 

have to support our position."

     Moving forward, Starr said he is discussing with his staff how to turn the fliers 

into a learning experience for students.

     "How do we help kids to discern between legitimate information and illegitimate 

information, how do we explain what it means to live in a free society, with 

First Amendment rights, is there a way to educate people about what this means 

in a larger context," Starr said.