Issue: Sex + Gender

Stephanie Lundquist-Arora is a contributor for the Washington Examiner, a mother in Fairfax County, Virginia, an author, and the Fairfax chapter leader of the Independent Women’s Network. This piece originally appeared in Washington Examiner.

This week, at Fairfax County, Virginia’s school board meeting, the Muslim community made a stand against gender ideology and sexually explicit materials in public schools. 

Thoraia Hussein, a mother of six children who attend the district’s public schools, spoke at the dais to school board members in front of an unusually packed auditorium. Among the crowd were about 75 Muslims who came to support Hussein in her testimony. She said, “I am here on the behalf of my community, Muslim and interfaith, as a concerned parent.”

Hussein objects to gender ideology instruction in public schools and the controversial pilot program that Michelle Reid, the district’s superintendent, is implementing in 14 elementary schools next year. During her testimony, Hussein cited the survey data that was completely ignored by the district’s leadership, which showed community members’ objections to the sex-combined pilot program and gender identity instruction in schools.

Hussein reminded the school board members of our constitutional rights. “According to the First Amendment,” she explained, “you may have personal beliefs, but you may not impose them on others.” 

And without a doubt, the district’s leaders are imposing their views on our children in violation of the First Amendment. Aside from their obsession with teaching elementary school children about so-called gender identities, they are mandating the use of preferred pronouns under the penalty of suspension.

Like most of us, Hussein also takes issue with the sexually explicit books available to our children in Fairfax County school libraries. She specifically cited This Book Is Gay, Gender Queer, and All Boys Aren’t Blue, which are readily available in the school district’s libraries. Karl Frisch, the board’s childless chairman, notably swore his oath of office on the latter two books in lieu of a religious text, symbolizing what we all know to be true: the LGBT indoctrination of our children is Frisch’s true religion.

But Frisch’s religion is not for everyone and shouldn’t be taught in public schools. In This Book Is Gay, for example, the white male author, Juno Dawson, pens a section titled, “How to Argue with Muslims.” Dawson also shares directions with readers on how to register for Grindr, a hook-up app for gay men. 

During her testimony, Hussein explained, “Those books are not just sexually exploiting children, but also offensive and touches our core values as Muslims.”

In a district where the leadership incessantly discusses inclusivity, Fairfax County’s school board members and administrators spend a great deal of resources implementing exclusionary policies.

Hussein, on the other hand, expressed a genuine desire for the inclusion of all children in public schools. She said, “Parents want school to be educational and nurturing children from all walks of life while respecting all beliefs.” 

If only Fairfax County would listen.