In the affluent and diverse community of Montgomery County, Maryland, parents from various faith traditions have joined forces to protest the inclusion of LGBTQ+ curriculum in elementary classrooms. The idea of books that promote inclusivity is not new, but what is new in the county since late March 2023 was the required reading of books that touch on topics related to LGBTQ+ issues as part of the English Language Arts curriculum in all grades from pre-K through 12. Parents were shocked to learn about the content of many of them and that they would be denied the opportunity to get advance notice of the readings and discussions or to have their children “op-out” of the content which contradicts their religious beliefs on the matter. Currently, the only option to opt out of specific content is related to sex-education classes.
The Maryland Office of the Council on American Islamic Relations has been present at every step of the way, informing Muslim families of their rights, discussing the matter with school board members, and trying to educate the general public about the parents concerns. Several community education workshops were held recently throughout the county and the information included in those sessions is important for all Muslim parents to know. Below is a summary of the details from an online workshop called “Families Rights in Public Education” hosted by Dr. Zainab Chaudhary, Director of the CAIR Office in Maryland, on June 26, 2023.
Parent Participation Is Vital
The first and most important point was that parent participation in the educational process is an American tradition and civic responsibility. That is true for all parents and there are many benefits of their involvement including:
- Positive impact on children
- Improved communication and collaboration with teachers and administrators
- Awareness of child’s experiences and exposure in schools
- Improved social, emotional, and behavioral development
- Positive impact on school culture which builds community, trust, and mutual respect
- Advocacy for child’s needs and rights, on an individual and community level
- Improves systemic issues that can benefit other students
- Provides parents an opportunity to play an active role in child’s education and stay informed about their progress and well-being
Parent involvement can include participation in school events, school board meetings, parent-teacher association meetings, volunteering in the classroom, and requesting information about lesson plans and academic resources. Related to the last point, Dr. Chaudhary reiterated that parents have a right to be informed about everything connected to their child’s “life at school.” This can include reviewing class syllabus (course design and lesson plans), being apprised of significant developments in the academic progress, being informed of changes that impact the school environment, providing feedback on a student’s overall well-being and mental health, and identifying matters of safety.
Rights Related to Religious Accommodation
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was enacted in 1791 and states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Those federal protections extend to the realm of education and provide for reasonable religious accommodation for prayer, fasting, attire, physical education activities, and other-related issues. Muslims and members of other faith communities have used the First Amendment within the education realm to be excused from certain lesson plans, special education programs, and other school activities that violate a family’s sincerely-held religious beliefs. In Montgomery County that accommodation was referred to as “opt out” and was routinely applied to the Family Life and Human Sexuality Unit of Instruction (often referred to as sex education classes). The right to opt-out of these lessons is specifically permitted by Maryland law.
Recent Protests
Contrary to the suggestion that has been bantered in the media and by the LGBTQ+ community, the campaign to restore opt-out rights in Montgomery County is not rooted in hatred and bigotry. According to Dr. Chaudhary, “Schools are funded by tax dollars and should be accessible and respect the dignity of all students in that space. We compromise the safety of the entire community by protecting one right by not respecting another.” She went on to say that parents who are challenging the practice are having their opinions and needs marginalized. And worse yet, children themselves no longer feel safe and fear retaliation, peer pressure, and cancel culture inside and outside of the schools.
How to Raise Concerns
Muslim parents who are not comfortable with a specific incident or practice in their local schools should speak out. And there are productive ways to go about that.
- Contact your child’s teacher to ask a question and/or voice your concern.
- If you are not satisfied with that response, you can take your questions or concerns to the school counselor or administration (assistant principal or principal).
- If there is no resolution in your local school, you can bring the matter to the attention of an elected official of the school board of education.
- The final layer would involve the school superintendent.
The local CAIR office can help facilitate conversations, particularly if there are some barriers related to language, socioeconomics, technology, etc.
In a matter like a requirement of LGBTQ+ resources and instruction, parents should do their own homework to learn more about new policies and practices in their local areas. Sometimes there are changes made in the curriculum, in the classroom, or in the school that parents don’t know about. And that lack of communication can cause confusion.
Parents should also routinely attend board of education meetings and public hearings. The agendas for those meetings are posted on their website. The hearings can be an important means of gathering information but they can also be an important opportunity to provide input and feedback. “Remember, your tax money is funding your local board and school system.”
Several months ago, CAIR produced an Opt Out Template that parents can use to request reasonable religious accommodations related to the resources and activities connected to LGBTQ+ matters. The template can be modified to meet your own needs. The primary goal is to have your voice heard and your family’s needs accommodated.
It is important to also remember that Muslims are not a monolithic community. There is a diversity of theological thought and opinions about a number of topics. For example, some Muslim students wear hijab and others do not; some Muslim students go to school on Eid, and some do not. To non-Muslims, this can create confusion about what is a firmly held religious belief. It is important that family’s articulate their concerns and needs clearly.
Uptick in Cases of Bullying
Dr. Chaudhury closed the session acknowledging that, although Montgomery County is often heralded as one of the best public education systems in the country, there has been a recent uptick in cases of bullying against Muslims students that seems connected with the opt-out protests.
The Maryland public school system is explicit in condemning all forms of bullying and expressly states:
“All students in Maryland public schools without exception and regardless of race, ethnicity, region, religion, gender, sexual orientation, language, socioeconomic status, age or disability have the right to educational environments that are safe, appropriate for academic achievement and free form any form of harassment.”
Most states have a similar policy statement. Instances of bullying must be taken seriously by students, parents, educators, and administrators. And bullying should be reported through the proper channels immediately.
Dr. Chaudhary reiterated that all parents and children should have clear expectations of the public school system. These include a belief that:
- Every child deserves to be seen and valued without it being at the expense of others.
- Differences encourage one another and are generally healthy.
- One student’s rights should not violate the rights of others.
- Schools have a responsibility to communicate with parents and students about curriculums, policies, and guidelines.
- Trust in the school system requires transparency and ample opportunity for community input.
Court Action
In addition to the protests that have taken place in Montgomery County, three sets of parents - one Muslim, one Catholic, and one mixed faith (Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox) - filed suit on May 24, 2023, against the Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent and the School Board. Their complaint cities a violation of their First and Fourth Amendments rights to opt-out of classroom content that “promotes controversial ideology around transgenderism” and are “age-inappropriate and inconsistent with [their client’s] religious beliefs and sound science.” While the lawsuit is a significant step, it will not bring immediate resolution for parents who are concerned about their child’s education today. The full 47-page complaint can be read here.
It is important to be aware of what is going on throughout the country related to the LGBTQ+ agenda. These changes in policies and practices may be benefitting those who subscribe to this lifestyle, but they are also indoctrinating young children with a confusing array of information related to gender fluidity and sexual practices and preferences that are contrary to Islamic guidance on these matters. That messaging and affirmation comes both in social acceptance and protection under the law, doesn’t change the very clear prohibition on homosexuality that is prescribed in the Quran and Sunnah. Muslims must take a stand to protect our rights and our children and be prepared to face the consequences.
Further Reading and Resources
Navigating Differences: Clarifying Sexual and Gender Ethics in Islam
Parents file lawsuit against MCPS over use of LGBTQ-inclusive books
For more resources, visit www.cair.com.
Zahirah Lynn Eppard is the managing editor of the Muslim Home parenting newsletter project. As Sound Vision’s Director of Religious Education, she has also spearheaded the production of more than 400 online classes serving children ages 3-12 in the Adam’s World and Colors of Islam Clubs. Eppard has also worked in the field of education as a teacher, homeschooler, and Islamic school principal, as a marital and crisis intervention counselor, and as a lobbyist, and social justice activist. She lives with her husband, children, and grandchildren in Maryland
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