A new LGBTQ+ studies class has been approved to be offered in ten unconfirmed MCPS schools, starting in the spring semester of the 2020-21 school year. This class has been an effort led mainly by the students and the student-run organization MoCo Pride.
MoCo Pride was founded in October of 2019 by RMHS sophomore Uma Fox after she noticed a lack of representation of LGBTQ+ voices in decision making spaces. Since then, it has expanded to a countywide organization with members from middle and high schools.
With meetings once a month, MoCo Pride discusses and combats LGBTQ+ issues that Montgomery County youth face. In addition, MoCo Pride attends conferences, meets with MCPS and county officials and organizes county events.
MoCo Pride has been a huge part of the effort to develop the LGBTQ+ studies class. Fox and MoCo Pride began lobbying for it and meeting with MCPS officials starting in October, and the actual development for the curriculum began in December.
The first curriculum content meeting in early Jan. was open to all staff, students, and parents. Since then, a small group of teachers have been creating the curriculum. Select student groups can give suggestions, materials, or ideas to this teacher group. Other groups, mainly MoCo Pride, review the curriculum and syllabus. Curriculum planning is expected to go on through the summer. Several teachers, students and community members have been actively involved in the writing process.
After the curriculum development, MoCo Pride plans on working with the Board of Education and Student Member of the Board on outreach and publicity.
The class itself, although often penned a history class, combines history, art, literature and current events from around the world into one studies class. Lessons also span across multiple eras to show the global impact that the LGBTQ+ community and culture has had throughout history.
“LGBTQ+ stories are a fundamental part of both American and global society. In a county that prides itself for its diversity and equity, it is necessary for students to see themselves and diverse experiences reflected in what they learn daily,” Fox said.
Many community members feel that just offering the class shows big steps towards combating bias in Montgomery County. “The explicit acknowledgment of the study of LGBTQ history and culture as important and deserving of respect and resources by MCPS is powerful, and sends the message to LGBTQ students and non-LGBTQ students alike that LGBTQ students are accepted and valued,” BCC junior Ella Trevelyan, who has been actively involved in the writing process, said.
This class will contribute to the fight against ignorance as well. “With miseducation, or lack of education at all, comes ignorance. With this curriculum, we’re letting others know that we are here, we’re queer, and we’re making a stand for ourselves and for those who cannot stand for themselves,” WWHS sophomore, Sydney Spottiswood, another student involved in the writing process, said.
Of course, this course will be available to all interested students at the ten pilot schools. It will allow students to explore their identities and let students that identify as LGBTQ+ learn more about their community. However, there are huge benefits for all students taking the class, no matter what they identify as.
“It is a great opportunity for students who may not identify as LGBTQ+ to learn more about the forces that shape identity, LGBTQ+ experience across history and culture, and the contemporary struggle for LGBTQ+ equality,” MoCo Pride secretary and RMHS sophomore Julia Angel said.
The impacts of this class are hard to predict, but will surely be big. “To see yourself reflected in curriculum is very powerful, and this course would provide that to students at a time in their life when they are unusually vulnerable to feelings of isolation, bullying, mental health issues, and more,” Trevelyan said.
“Homophobia is a taught way of thinking. I think this class will help inform people, and in turn break the stereotypes and bias they were taught from a young age,” an anonymous MCPS student said.
While only ten schools have been chosen to offer this pilot class next year, many schools have shown an interest in offering this class. MoCo Pride hopes that this class will expand in the near future, not only as an elective for students, but as a symbol of hope and progress for the county.
“Students will be able to apply central concepts to other forms of issues and identity, expanding critical thinking and connections between topics. All of these aspects will allow students to understand the human city of their classmates and the complexity of all of our individual experiences,” Fox said.
Article by Victoria Koretsky of Richard Montgomery High School
Graphic by Claire Yang of Winston Churchill High School