Moms for the First Amendment

Posted on May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 by Jenny

set of condoms for contraceptive and protection against infection

Unless you've been living under a rock, by now you've probably heard about Moms for Liberty and their activism regarding sex education, library books, and LGBTQ+ topics in schools. As word spreads of a new M4L chapter recently launching in Howard County, with failed (phew) 2022 Board of Education candidate Tudy Adler serving as its vice chair, I sit in amazement about the fact that in the year of our Lord 2023, people still get all bajiggity about sexual topics being discussed in public schools...

Linfeng Chen and Tudy Adler Defend the Indefensible

Posted on October 29, 2022October 29, 2022 by Jenny

woman in white shirt showing frustration

Believe it or not, I'm at a loss for words. So I'll just get right to it: I'm in possession of an audio clip from a recent Board of Education candidate forum in which the candidates respond to a question from an audience member. The audience member, an HCPSS father who is gay, and whose husband and young child were both present, asked why Linfeng Chen and Tudy Adler don't support his child feeling accepted in school as the child of two dads. Their responses took my breath away. And not in a ...

Our LGBTQ+ Kids Deserve Better than Tudy Adler

Posted on September 24, 2022September 24, 2022 by Jenny

Today, Community Allies of Rainbow Youth held a candidate forum for this year's Board of Education candidates, where Tudy Adler finally had to say the quiet parts out loud in response to pointed questions about LGBTQ+ topics in HCPSS. We already knew that the book Gender Queer gives her the vapors, but today's forum gave us further insight into her views on LGBTQ+ issues beyond just books in libraries. Her responses were window-dressed with phrases like "age-appropriate," "focus on students' co...

Pieces of You

Posted on May 27, 2022May 27, 2022 by Jenny

If you ever listened to Jewel back in the 90s, you might remember her song Pieces of You, a brilliantly written song that suggests that the hatred people express toward others is really a manifestation of their own feelings of shame and self-loathing. When I see the things parents say in reaction to LGBTQ+ topics, I often think of this song. There's been a lot of discussion regarding LGBTQ+ students in Howard County lately, with Board of Education candidates sounding off on LGBTQ+ books a...

Kids’ Lives are at Stake in the Board of Education Race.

Posted on May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 by Jenny

"One of the charges thrown against the book was that it promoted pedophilia — based on a single panel depicting an erotic ancient Greek vase. Others simply called it pornography, a common accusation against work with themes of queer sexuality. Queer youth are often forced to look outside their own homes, and outside the education system, to find information on who they are. Removing or restricting queer books in libraries and schools is like cutting a lifeline for queer youth, who might not yet...