Maryland school system asks students to share a Pride Month story

A public school system in Maryland recently asked students and staff to share a photo or a story about LGBTQIA+ pride during “Pride Month,” which likely violated existing laws about preventing the public distribution of a student’s private information.

The MCPS Staff P.R.I.D.E. Group Twitter account wrote, “Share your photo/story of PRIDE  at your school or office below. Let’s celebrate the collective efforts of @MCPS staff and students to uplift, affirm, and honor the #LGBTQIA+ community! @mcps_lgbtq @mcpsequityteam @MCPSTV @MCPSEspanol @MCPSAthletics @MoCoPrideCenter“

However, the tweet demonstrated a significant lack of knowledge about student privacy laws, as it is prohibited for schools and staff to publish private information of underage minor students. The staff Twitter account claimed, “This post does not mention sharing photos of students,” but that claim is incorrect because it clearly stated “Share your photo/story of PRIDE” in the previous tweet.

The Twitter account’s biography reads, “A safe, affirming professional & social network for MCPS staff who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Resources & reminders for MCPS schools & offices,” which means it is an officially sanctioned Twitter account of a taxpayer-funded public school system.

As background, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is one of the largest public school systems in Maryland and has undertaken the banner of promoting gender identity ideology and LGBTQIA+ issues within its schools. For example, the public schools system has held an annual “Pride Town Hall” since 2020.

It is a jarring reminder that public schools and the bureaucrats who lead them are more enthusiastic about LGBTQIA+ issues than focusing on the basics of education, such as mathematics, reading and writing, science, and civics/history.

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