Maryland Democrat Says Muslim Families Have the Same Views as ‘White Supremacists’ for Opposing LGBTQ Curriculum

A Democratic councilwoman in Maryland compared "Islamic beliefs" to the ideology of white supremacists after some students spoke up about why they opposed a new LGBTQ curriculum at a Montgomery County Public Schools meeting on Tuesday.

"I'm here to talk about my rights. My religion teaches to respect all religions and all human beings and their rights. So does my country's law. And I want my right back to have an opt-out option," said Sa’ad Baig, a Montgomery County middle schooler who spoke during the public comment.

Baig said that he acknowledges the importance of inclusivity, noting that while LBGTQ children have experienced bullying and other issues in the past, the policy in question has put him and his peers in a difficult situation too.

“There are over 40 kids that I know who don’t want to learn this and really want to be here talking today but can’t because they are being bullied … they are the ones being bullies when they say, ‘This is against my religion.’”

Other students joined Baig to say that the policy is not only increasing bullying towards students who have strong religious beliefs but infringes on their religious freedom.

"Never should a student be marginalized or excluded because of their opinions. Giving kids the option to skip these sessions enables us to exercise our right to practice our religion freely while preventing us from experiencing harassment at school," one student said, reading off a statement by another, according to Fox News.

"Restoring the opt-out choice does not encourage bigotry or a lack of comprehension. It promotes respect and inclusivity by honoring students' religious convictions."

Following remarks made by children requesting an opt-option, Councilwoman Kristin Mink compared Muslim beliefs the children referenced to a white supremacist agenda.

She said that Muslim families should not have the religious right to opt their children out of LGBTQ books, just as parents who don't believe in evolution cannot opt their children out of studying it.

”This issue has, unfortunately, put… some Muslim families on the same side of an issue as white supremacists and outright bigots," Mink, a Democrat who represents Montgomery County Council for District 5, said.

"I would not put you in the same category as those folks, although, you know, it's complicated because they're falling on the same side of this particular issue."

"And that is equity," Mink continued. "That's not an infringement on, you know, particular religious freedoms, just as we cannot allow folks to opt out of teachings about evolution."

The meeting was held to address public comments on an approved list of books being adapted into the curriculum for students as young as pre-kindergarten.

According to Fox News, several protestors and parents gathered outside the Montgomery County School Board building to demand a "no opt-out" policy for certain LGBTQ+ books approved for the classroom. 

While school board members announced the new curriculum in January, it was revised in March to remove the ability to opt out of certain lessons,The Washington Post reported. As a result, parents and some children have claimed an infringement on their religious rights.

According to school officials, policy allows an opt-out option for the health education curriculum, but since the new books are part of the language arts curriculum, the opt-outs are not allowed.

Several advocacy agencies, including the Religious Freedom Institute, told Fox News they were "shocked" by Mink's response to the children and her comments about the Muslim community. 

"I was shocked. I was absolutely stunned. That's the last thing that I thought she was going to say," Ismail Royer, a director with the Religious Freedom Institute said. "In fact, the Muslims don't hate anyone.”

Royer added that the parents were not objecting to tolerance or acceptance of the LGBTQ community, but objecting to the inability to choose what their children are exposed to at school.