Contact: Regina Griggs, Director, Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX), 703-360-2225, PFOX@pfox.org 

ROCKVILLE, Maryland, July 11 /Standard Newswire/ -- In its ruling last week regarding a controversial sexuality curriculum in Montgomery County, the Maryland State Board of Education (MBOE) has implicitly authorized local school boards to promote "sexual diversity" to students and teach about anal sex while excluding warnings of the medical dangers pertaining to such practices.

Both the MBOE and Montgomery County School Board rejected a petition from 270 local medical doctors to include warning about anal sex critical to student safety as issued by the Office of the Surgeon General and National Institutes of Health.

The MBOE has also ruled that Maryland schools may teach questioning and confused students that homosexuality is "innate," a controversial and unproven theory advanced by gay advocacy groups serving on the Montgomery County School Board's curriculum advisory committee.

"In order to pander to these forces, sound education doctrine will now be turned on its head in Maryland," said Regina Griggs, Executive Director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX). "The MBOE has taken the preposterous position that questioning children can now be taught that they are 'born that way' until science proves otherwise 'with a preponderance of evidence.'"

"Millions of dollars and three decades of research have failed to prove that homosexuality is innate or that change is not possible," said Griggs. "After our expert testimony and briefs, it became obvious that science failed to justify the Montgomery County Public Schools' biased and anti-exgay curriculum. Because they know that what they want to teach is not factual, MBOE instead claims that teaching children to 'respect differences in sexuality' of transgenders, transsexuals, homosexuals and cross-dressers is a 'civic virtue.'"

"But if that respect is for ex-gays or an individual's choice to not embrace homosexuality--then teaching respect is not necessary, according to the MBOE ruling," said Griggs. "So much for so-called 'respecting diversity.' The Montgomery County School Board reappointed the curriculum advisory committee members who openly attack ex-gays and discourage equal access by ex-gay supporters."

The following Maryland State School Board members voted to endorse this dangerous and discriminatory sex education curriculum: Edward L. Root, President; Dunbar Brooks, Vice President; Lelia T, Allen; Beverly Cooper; Calvin D. Disney; Karabelle Pizigati; and Marcia C. Torres-Queral.

For the legal ruling click here

PFOX leads the nation in providing outreach, education, and public awareness in support of families and the ex-gay community. They can be reached via their website at www.pfox.org