Maryland
Federal appeals court dismisses lawsuit against Montgomery County schools gender guidelines
Parents oppose efforts to support transgender, gender nonconforming students
A federal appeals court dismissed a case Monday challenging guidelines in Montgomery County that allow schools to create plans to support transgender or gender nonconforming students without the knowledge or consent of the students’ parents.
The case was brought by three parents of students in the school district, none of whom have transgender or gender nonconforming children, according to the ruling.
Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum, Jr., of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in the majority opinion that opposition to the guidelines should be settled with elected representatives, not in court.
“That does not mean their objections are invalid,” Quattlebaum wrote. “In fact, they may be quite persuasive. But, by failing to show any injury to themselves, the parents’ opposition … reflects a policy disagreement. And policy disagreements should be addressed to elected policymakers at the ballot box, not to unelected judges in the courthouse.”
The guidelines at the heart of the case allow school staff to create support plans for trans or gender nonconforming students that allow students to use their chosen names and pronouns, use bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity and play on team sports of their gender identity. The guidelines do not require parental or guardian consent for support plans to be approved.
Montgomery County Public Schools is Maryland’s largest school district with more than 160,000 students. At least 350 students in the district had gender support plans on file as of 2022.
Maryland
Christian Siriano to serve as grand marshal of Annapolis Pride Parade
Fashion designer is an Annapolis native
BY JOHN-JOHN WILLIAMS IV | He’s conquered fashion week. His designs have slayed the red carpet during award season. And now Christian Siriano is coming home.
The Annapolis native will serve as grand marshal and keynote speaker June 1 for the annual Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival, which is a major coup as the event enters its fourth year.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Thursday signed a bill that seeks to combat efforts to ban books from state libraries.
House Bill 785, also known as the Freedom to Read Act, would establish a state policy “that local school systems operate their school library media programs consistent with certain standards; requiring each local school system to develop a policy and procedures to review objections to materials in a school library media program; prohibiting a county board of education from dismissing, demoting, suspending, disciplining, reassigning, transferring, or otherwise retaliating against certain school library media program personnel for performing their job duties consistent with certain standards.”
Moore on Thursday also signed House Bill 1386, which GLSEN notes will “develop guidelines for an anti-bias training program for school employees.”
Maryland
Health care for Marylanders with HIV is facing huge cuts this summer
Providers poised to lose three-quarters of funding
BY MEREDITH COHN | By the end of June, health care providers in Maryland will lose nearly three-quarters of the funding they use to find and treat thousands of people with HIV.
Advocates and providers say they had been warned there would be less money by the Maryland Department of Health, but were stunned at the size of the drop — from about $17.9 million this fiscal year to $5.3 million the next. The deep cuts are less than three months away.
The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
D.C. Council member proposes change for Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs
United Methodist Church removes 40-year ban on gay clergy
Republican state AGs challenge Biden administration’s revised Title IX policies
University students have a right to protest
Former CAMP Rehoboth official sentenced to nine months in prison
Md. governor signs Freedom to Read Act
HHS reverses Trump-era anti-LGBTQ rule
4th Circuit rules gender identity is a protected characteristic
PHOTOS: Capital Pride Pageant
