Parents from the Muslim community voiced strong concerns at a Montgomery County Public Schools board meeting on Tuesday, protesting the mandatory LGBTQ+ sexuality curriculum for elementary school students and the removal of the opt-out option. Recent weeks have seen growing discontent among parents, students, and activists regarding this policy change.

Sameera Munshi, representing the Coalition of Virtue, emphasized that adhering to their faith's principles should not be misconstrued as harmful. She criticized the notion that respecting their community's rights hinges on their assimilation to prevailing societal norms. Munshi asserted that their faith transcends partisan politics and that preserving their values is integral to the American dream. She accused certain school board members of deriding their values and actively seeking to undermine their right to pass those values on to their children.

Munshi underscored the constitutional right of Muslim parents to impart their values to their children, appealing for the choice to exempt their children from instruction that clashes with their religious beliefs. She assured that students would learn about transgender individuals at an age deemed appropriate by their parents, advocating for respectful conversations within the community. However, she firmly opposed forcing young children to accept specific ideologies regarding gender and sexuality that contradict their families' religious values.

Several other speakers echoed these sentiments. Sa'ad, a middle school student, previously testified about his desire for the opt-out option, emphasizing his faith's and his country's emphasis on respecting all religions and individuals. Ibrahim Raziuddin, a recent graduate, expressed concerns about the age-appropriateness of the curriculum for his younger cousins. Another graduate, Yasmeen Elkoshairi, highlighted the erosion of religious freedom both globally and within the United States.

Following these testimonies at the June 6 meeting, Montgomery County council member Kristin Mink sparked controversy by suggesting that these Muslim families' stance aligned them with white supremacists and bigots, although she clarified that she did not place them in the same category.

Jahangir Baig, a parent in the district, invoked Attorney General Merrick Garland's memo concerning the investigation of parents who speak out at school board meetings. Despite acknowledging the FBI's history with the Muslim community, he declared his unwavering commitment to advocating for his child.

The Montgomery County Board of Education did not provide a comment by the time of publication.