A Muslim religious group has filed a lawsuit against a Maryland school district for exposing children to human sexual content without notifying parents and allowing parents to opt out of classes.
of The Council on American-Islamic Relations has filed a lawsuit on behalf of parents whose children attend Montgomery County Public Schools. The plaintiffs allege that the school “[d] Preschool and elementary school children are encouraged to read certain books that promote one-sided transgender ideologies, encourage gender transitions, and focus too much on romantic feelings (“pride storybooks”) through parental notice or I let it load without an opportunity to opt out. ”
His parents belong to multiple denominations of Islam and Christianity, according to filings.
“They are united in the belief that the Pride Storybook is age-appropriate and inconsistent with their religious beliefs, practices and parenting philosophies.” lawsuitwas filed on May 24.
An example of the materials provided to young students included in the submission are books such as: pride puppy By Robin Stevenson and Julie McLaughlin. The book was created for her 3-year-old to her 4-year-old and includes a “search and search word list” that instructs children to look for “intersex.” [flag]”[drag] King” and “[drag] “Queen” “Leather” “Underwear”.
another book called love violetencourages fourth-graders to “talk about their feelings with someone they think they ‘like’ rather than ‘like’,” according to a teacher’s guide.
Distributed to 5th grade students in the district. Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelopeis advocating. [for] According to the complaint, it is the child’s best-know approach to gender reassignment, that the decision to reassign does not have to be “meaningful,” and that the student, not the parent or other adult, is the best person for such matters. I tell my students that I am a ‘teacher’.”
Parents were given advance notice about the books and were allowed to refuse students this year, but no similar warnings will be given next year. Plaintiffs and CAIR allege that the school district violates “its own written policy” and state law that “allows parents to opt their children out of instruction on ‘family life and human sexuality.'”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations reverses its decision not to allow Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendents and School Boards to “opt-out of classroom discussions on sexually-themed reading materials” from kindergarten through the 12th. asked for grade classrooms and the decision to direct schools not to “notify parents when such content will be provided.”
“MCPS is committed to providing families and protective services by introducing sex-themed classes and materials as part of the school curriculum without prior parental notice, opt-out options, or other reasonable religious considerations. violates the rights of others and undermines Maryland law,” CAIR wrote. in a statement. “Families and parents place their children in the school system with the expectation that these rights will be respected and recognized. The option to refrain from reading or participating in sexually-themed classes or discussions should be reinstated and that authority should be respected.”
Each of the three families involved in the lawsuit briefly described their religious beliefs and how the materials distributed by the school district violated their beliefs.
One family said they believed “The Pride Storybook goes far beyond teaching kindness and respect[as a matter of manners and upright citizenship].”
Per application:
Rather, the Pride Storybook is used to impose an ideological view of family life and sexuality that characterizes all dissimilar beliefs as “harmful.”
The Pride Storybook also promotes political ideologies about family life and human sexuality that conflict with sound science, common sense, and child welfare.
Parents believe that introducing their children prematurely to many of the topics presented in the Pride Storybook is harmful spiritually, mentally and physically.
Plaintiffs asked the court to uphold the First Amendment’s right to opt children out of classes on family life and human sexuality. They also prohibit school boards from forcing students to “read, listen to, or discuss the school board’s Pride Storybook,” despite parental objections, and seek criminal damages. It also seeks an interim injunction granting
“Children deserve guidance on how to make sense of the complex issues of gender identity, transgenderism and human sexuality from the parents who know and love them best.” said Eric Baxter, vice president and senior adviser to the association. The non-profit law firm Beckett is representing the family.
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