The wealthiest school district in Maryland has unveiled a new LGBTQ-friendly book list for elementary schools to use as a guide to help students learn more about gender, sexuality, and words often used to describe a specific person or group. Montgomery County Public Schools held a presentation to show teachers the list of “LGBTQ+ affirming books” and how they should be used for students in pre-K through fifth grade.
The school district’s goal is to provide an inclusive reading list for students while reducing the “stigmatization and marginalization of transgender and gender nonconforming students,” as mentioned in a copy of the presentation obtained by Fox News. The new curriculum was part of a development workshop in August, advising MCPS staff to use at least five books from the list by December.
The presentation revealed the names of books featuring children with LGBTQ parents, family members, and those part of the community.
Because the list is based on grade levels, MCPS suggested that pre-K students learn more about gender identities by reading Pride Puppy. The book is about a family partnering with drag queens and other transgender individuals to help find their dog that went missing at a Pride Day parade, ABC 15 News reported. Students will also learn words like "intersex," "drag king," and "drag queen," and about Marsha P. Johnson, a legendary gay rights activist who died in 1992.
The presentation also imparts resources to help teachers “define LGBTQ+ words,” like "gender identity," "gender expansive," "pansexual," and "cisgender” to children as young as 4 years old. The initiative from MCPS is "to normalize representation of LGBTQ+ identities," as opposed to making it "a 'thing' we spotlight in response to something that's happened."
The new curriculum will increase representation among students who identify as LGBTQ.
"All students deserve to see themselves in their school and classroom, including students who identify as LGBTQ+ and come from LGBTQ+ headed families and have family members that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community," the presentation states. "There are no planned explicit lessons related to gender and sexuality, but these books do mean that LGBTQ+ identities will be made visible. Inclusive curricula support a student’s ability to empathize, connect, and collaborate with a diverse group of peers, and encourage respect for all."
"No child, or adult, who does not agree with or understand another student’s gender identity or expression or their sexuality identity is asked to change how they feel about it," it adds.
Students in kindergarten, ages 5 and 6, are advised to read the book Uncle Bobby, a story about a wedding involving two men. MCPS expects the elementary schoolers to “recognize that people’s multiple identities interact and create unique and complex individuals,” the school district’s guide reads. Public online access to the guide appears to have since been restricted.
Elementary students will also learn about standing against ‘exclusion,’ ‘prejudice,’ and ‘injustice,’ according to the MCPS guide.
The following is a list of books students are expected to read in each grade:
First-grade students are advised to read IntersectionAllies: We Make Room for All, a book that teaches children about nonbinary identities and which pronouns are best to use to identify them.
Second-grade students, ages 7 and 8, are suggested to read My Rainbow, a book about a Black transgender child that teachers other children about the terms “cisgender” and “transgender.” "Appreciating that Trinity’s identities are part of what make her a 'masterpiece,'" the district described the book according to the guide.
Third graders, ages 8 and 9, are advised to read the book Prince & Knight, a story about a prince who falls in love with a knight.
Fourth graders are expected to read the book Love, Violet, a story about a young girl who develops feelings for her friend, Mira.
Fifth graders, ages 10 and 11, are recommended to read the book Born Ready, a story about a Black transgender child.
The public has voiced opinions on the controversial book list, and they run the gamut.
"Well here you have it folks," one person tweeted. "Normalization of grooming now to 4-5 year olds. This is beyond inappropriate. Maryland school district unveils LGBTQ library for pre-K-5th grade."
Another person tweeted: "This is so wrong. Can't children be children? There is going to be alot of homeschooling or an increase in private education."
"Why school board elections and elections for superintendent of elections at the local level are vital – controlling both is how American parents can take back control of public schools, many of which are dedicated to indoctrination and grooming," commented one person. "How many were flipped this year?"
"Is the Bible in the library?" one Twitter user questioned. "I remember the story Lot’s daughters getting him drunk so they can rape him and get pregnant. Ahhhhhh the Bible is so full of great advice. We must all live by it and teach it to our children."
"If only we could figure out why teaching people to accept others is so important," commented another. "Oh here is is, Yale study that LGBTQ kids are five more times likely to list bullying as a reason for suicide than non-LGBTQ suicides. Also, kind of the point of the Christianity in general."
The school district's decision is clearly a point of contention that won't be settled anytime soon. But as several people pointed out on Twitter, these decisions were made by elected officials, supported by the people of Maryland.
