9/6/07 Update: Lambda Legal, a gay rights legal organization, has filed court papers to act as co-counsel with the School Board’s attorneys.

PFOX Files a Motion to Stay Inaccurate Sexuality Lessons—"Back to School" spells danger for students

News Advisory: September 5, 2007
Contact: Regina Griggs, Director, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX)  804-453-4737 PFOX@pfox.org  www.pfox.org

Montgomery County, Maryland – Yesterday Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX), Citizens for a Responsible Curriculum, and Family Leader Network filed a legal motion in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland to stay the implementation of a scientifically flawed and politically biased sexuality curriculum targeted to middle and high school students in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The local school board, headed by Nancy Navarro, approved a health education curriculum that teaches anal sex as unexceptional and intentionally excludes warnings issued by the CDC and NIH of the high medical dangers pertaining to such a practice.

The curriculum also teaches students that homosexuality is “innate,” a controversial and unproven theory advanced by gay advocacy groups serving on the Montgomery County School Board’s curriculum advisory committee.

“The Montgomery County Board of Education claims that teaching children to ‘respect’ transsexuality, homosexuality and cross-dressing is a ‘civic virtue,’” said Regina Griggs, PFOX Executive Director. “But they refuse to teach respect for ex-gays or a child’s right to not embrace homosexuality,” said Griggs.

“This is hypocrisy in the extreme. The Montgomery County School Board reappointed those curriculum advisory committee members who openly denigrate ex-gays and want to deny equal access to any information about leaving homosexuality provided by the ex-gay community. The Board itself needs to learn respect for diversity.”

Edward L. White III, trial counsel with the Thomas More Law Center, a prominent public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is assisting PFOX and the pro-family groups in their lawsuit against the school board.

The following Montgomery County, Maryland School Board members voted to endorse this dangerous and discriminatory sex education curriculum: Nancy Navarro, President; Shirley Brandman, Vice President; Christopher Barclay, Sharon W. Cox, Patricia O’Neill, and Judy Docca.

###

PFOX leads the nation in providing outreach, education, and public awareness in support of families and the ex-gay community. They can be reached via their website at www.pfox.org