BOE Response to Council Member’s Testimony re Muslim Faith and White Supremacy

[Anonymous]

Have any members of the BOE commented on the testimony that the county council member gave regarding Muslim protestors that appeared at last week’s meeting?

[Anonymous]

The BOE and the Councilmember Mink are in lock-step agreement with her since she backs their position on blocking the opt-out. Did you watch the testimony? They remarked on Councilmember Mink's testimony and basically thanked her for backing their position, despite the protests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and the Councilmember Mink are in lock-step agreement with her since she backs their position on blocking the opt-out. Did you watch the testimony? They remarked on Councilmember Mink's testimony and basically thanked her for backing their position, despite the protests.

I did watch her testimony and their response. I just figured with some time to reflect the BOE members would think it important to make a public statement about the debacle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and the Councilmember Mink are in lock-step agreement with her since she backs their position on blocking the opt-out. Did you watch the testimony? They remarked on Councilmember Mink's testimony and basically thanked her for backing their position, despite the protests.

I did watch her testimony and their response. I just figured with some time to reflect the BOE members would think it important to make a public statement about the debacle

The BOE is not going to change its mind and they are very comfortable with offending the portion of the Muslim/Christian communities that demand the opt-out to show and demonstrate allegiance to the LGBT community. Don't hold your breath for a different take or position.

[Anonymous]

The decision to remove the opt-out option was made by Dr. McKnight, not the board. A few members of the BOE have voiced their strong support, but there hasn't been a vote or official statement on the issue.

[Anonymous]

They are going to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting for something that doesn’t even affect them directly? They don’t have good priorities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The decision to remove the opt-out option was made by Dr. McKnight, not the board. A few members of the BOE have voiced their strong support, but there hasn't been a vote or official statement on the issue.

Testimony during public comments around the opt-out option has been going on for months. After every round of public comments, the BOE members remark and they either ignore the negative comments or voice support for dismantling the opt-out option in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion.

If there was a contingent within the BOE who felt differently from what has been expressed, I think they would have expressed it by now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The decision to remove the opt-out option was made by Dr. McKnight, not the board. A few members of the BOE have voiced their strong support, but there hasn't been a vote or official statement on the issue.

Testimony during public comments around the opt-out option has been going on for months. After every round of public comments, the BOE members remark and they either ignore the negative comments or voice support for dismantling the opt-out option in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion.

If there was a contingent within the BOE who felt differently from what has been expressed, I think they would have expressed it by now.

That's great! I'm so glad they aren't caving to the bigotry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The decision to remove the opt-out option was made by Dr. McKnight, not the board. A few members of the BOE have voiced their strong support, but there hasn't been a vote or official statement on the issue.

Testimony during public comments around the opt-out option has been going on for months. After every round of public comments, the BOE members remark and they either ignore the negative comments or voice support for dismantling the opt-out option in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion.

If there was a contingent within the BOE who felt differently from what has been expressed, I think they would have expressed it by now.

That's great! I'm so glad they aren't caving to the bigotry.

It’s kind of ironic that you are using bigotry to fight what you also claim is bigotry.

Unfortunately, I’m not shocked by this myopic view. The goal no longer seems to be mutual respect and shared spaces. It seems to be “give me my way and screw you.”

I say this as a fairly moderate person, who is perfectly happy to support the LGBTQA+ community AND religious communities. I’ve quickly realized, however, that there is no room for voices like mine.

The video of the protest was appalling to me. Such rude behaviors from the counter protesters: the glaring music drowning out voices, the middle finger, the rude comments. This is what Montgomery County has become?

[Anonymous]

I actually thought Mink’s testimony was, for the most part, powerful and thoughtful. She (more than some BOE members) actually took the time to speak with and listen to the POV of those requesting to reinstate the opt-out. While she ultimately felt their position was not tenable because opting out, in her view, was not neutral but actually causes harm to the LGBTQ community, her testimony was mostly intended to build a bridge rather than divide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually thought Mink’s testimony was, for the most part, powerful and thoughtful. She (more than some BOE members) actually took the time to speak with and listen to the POV of those requesting to reinstate the opt-out. While she ultimately felt their position was not tenable because opting out, in her view, was not neutral but actually causes harm to the LGBTQ community, her testimony was mostly intended to build a bridge rather than divide.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually thought Mink’s testimony was, for the most part, powerful and thoughtful. She (more than some BOE members) actually took the time to speak with and listen to the POV of those requesting to reinstate the opt-out. While she ultimately felt their position was not tenable because opting out, in her view, was not neutral but actually causes harm to the LGBTQ community, her testimony was mostly intended to build a bridge rather than divide.

I agree. I recommend others watch her teatimony for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually thought Mink’s testimony was, for the most part, powerful and thoughtful. She (more than some BOE members) actually took the time to speak with and listen to the POV of those requesting to reinstate the opt-out. While she ultimately felt their position was not tenable because opting out, in her view, was not neutral but actually causes harm to the LGBTQ community, her testimony was mostly intended to build a bridge rather than divide.

+1 Mink is not always my favorite board member, but she does have a nuanced understanding of intersectionality. I know that the Moms for Liberty folks thought they had a trump card by involving CAIR (because libs love brown folks, amiright?) but Mink seems to understand that religion and acceptance are not opposing, and that an intersectional approach demands consideration of people marginalized on multiple axis, including LGBTQ+ Muslim American youth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually thought Mink’s testimony was, for the most part, powerful and thoughtful. She (more than some BOE members) actually took the time to speak with and listen to the POV of those requesting to reinstate the opt-out. While she ultimately felt their position was not tenable because opting out, in her view, was not neutral but actually causes harm to the LGBTQ community, her testimony was mostly intended to build a bridge rather than divide.

+1 Mink is not always my favorite board member, but she does have a nuanced understanding of intersectionality. I know that the Moms for Liberty folks thought they had a trump card by involving CAIR (because libs love brown folks, amiright?) but Mink seems to understand that religion and acceptance are not opposing, and that an intersectional approach demands consideration of people marginalized on multiple axis, including LGBTQ+ Muslim American youth.

DP. Or, to put it in plain language for people unfamiliar with terms like "marginalized" or "intersectional":

Some Muslim-Americans are LGBTQ+.
Some LGBTQ+ people are Muslim-Americans.
The Moms for Liberty folks don't want LGBTQ+ people (whether Muslim or non-Muslim) in public life AND ALSO don't want Muslim-American people (whether LGBTQ+ or non-LGBTQ+) in public life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The decision to remove the opt-out option was made by Dr. McKnight, not the board. A few members of the BOE have voiced their strong support, but there hasn't been a vote or official statement on the issue.

Testimony during public comments around the opt-out option has been going on for months. After every round of public comments, the BOE members remark and they either ignore the negative comments or voice support for dismantling the opt-out option in the name of diversity, equity and inclusion.

If there was a contingent within the BOE who felt differently from what has been expressed, I think they would have expressed it by now.

That's great! I'm so glad they aren't caving to the bigotry.

It’s kind of ironic that you are using bigotry to fight what you also claim is bigotry.

Unfortunately, I’m not shocked by this myopic view. The goal no longer seems to be mutual respect and shared spaces. It seems to be “give me my way and screw you.”

I say this as a fairly moderate person, who is perfectly happy to support the LGBTQA+ community AND religious communities. I’ve quickly realized, however, that there is no room for voices like mine.

The video of the protest was appalling to me. Such rude behaviors from the counter protesters: the glaring music drowning out voices, the middle finger, the rude comments. This is what Montgomery County has become?

Same here. Diversity is OK in MoCo as long as it's not viewpoint diversity. Then you must be shunned for not agreeing with them.