Attorneys General Rally to Create Safe School Environment for LGBTQ+ Students
Michigan Attorney General, Dana Nessel, has joined forces with 19 other attorneys general to file a brief aimed at establishing a safe environment for LGBTQ+ students across the country. The move comes as the Maryland Montgomery County Board of Education faces a challenge to its policy that includes LGBTQ-inclusive books.
The board’s decision to include a variety of LGBTQ-inclusive books in its elementary school curriculum was driven by concerns that the LGBTQ+ community was not adequately represented in the literature children read in school. However, a group of parents filed a lawsuit against the board, arguing that it violated their right to free exercise of religion by not allowing students to opt out of classes where these books would be read.
Although a Maryland district court denied the case’s preliminary injunction, stating that the parents were unlikely to succeed in their claims, the parents have now appealed to the Fourth Circuit Court. In response to the case of Mahmoud v. McKnight, Attorney General Nessel and the coalition have filed an amicus brief emphasizing the importance of creating safe and inclusive school environments for all students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+.
The brief highlights that efforts to foster supportive and inclusive school environments are crucial for the well-being of all students, and particularly for LGBTQ+ students. Contrary to claims that the books used by the county constitute sex education, the brief argues that they simply enable LGBTQ+ students to see themselves represented in literature and exposes other students to different family structures and relationships.
As noted by the Attorney General’s office, the board’s policy does not raise any constitutional or other concerns. Nessel believes that a Language Arts curriculum that respects diversity of viewpoints and experiences plays a vital role in creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment. She stresses that the omission of LGBTQ+ stories maintains the marginalization of students and perpetuates their isolation from their peers.
Overall, this coalition of attorneys general emphasizes the need for inclusive educational settings, supported by social science research that confirms the benefits of such environments for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As the case unfolds in the court system, these legal advocates continue their efforts to ensure that LGBTQ+ students can thrive in a safe and accepting educational atmosphere.
