Rev. Carrisa Surber of Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist Church spoke to the Baltimore County Public Schools Board of Education on July 8th to reiterate the importance of keeping LGBTQ+ literature in our public schools in light of the recent Mahmoud v. Taylor Supreme Court decision. Rev. Surber’s powerful and eloquent statement is shared here, with her permission.
Good evening, Board Members, and thank you for the opportunity to speak today. I am Rev. Carissa Surber, a Baltimore County parent and pastor of Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist Church in Ruxton/Riderwood. I rise today on behalf of Faith Communities of Baltimore with Pride, a coalition of 57 faith communities in the Baltimore region that affirm and celebrate the diversity and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community.
Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court handed down a decision on the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor, ruling that parents can opt out of literature that includes LGBTQ+ people, on the basis of religion. I am here today to encourage the Baltimore County Board of Education to continue to include these materials in the public schools. Like many of you, I am concerned that this ruling will result in additional administrative burdens on teachers and staff. But I am even more concerned that this ruling will have the chilling effect of encouraging schools to omit such literature from the classroom altogether.
As a product of the Maryland public school system, I know first-hand how public schools are one of the most important places for students to encounter others with a variety of life experiences. It was in a public school that I first met people of different races and religions. It’s where I first met fellow students who celebrated Yom Kippur – and who fasted during Ramadan. And it was in a public school that I first made friends who were gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. These friendships were supported by readings and curriculum that enabled me to make sense of the world. Over time, these public school experiences worked together to give me the muscle of tolerance – and then acceptance – and now outright celebration – of a community that is diverse in every way.
As a Baltimore County parent and local clergy person, I want to ensure that this Board hears that there are many religious communities in our area who do not want to opt out of such learning. While some parents may wish to prevent their children from learning about LGBTQ+ people, the 57 faith communities in our coalition celebrate such people. We hope to see LGBTQ+ stories included and celebrated in the classroom, along with other stories of people in historically marginalized groups.
The faith communities I represent believe that coexistence, cooperation, and civil discourse require mutual understanding. We hope that the Baltimore County Board of Education will continue its long history of supporting teachers as they help their students to learn about people of different races, ethnicities, genders, orientations, socioeconomic statuses, languages, and abilities. We know that exposure to these differences fosters curiosity and empathy. And we believe that when a student can read a book and say, “That person is just like me!” then the student will be better equipped to learn and succeed.
In my faith tradition, we believe that all people, including LGBTQ+ individuals, are created in the image of God. This means that they have inherent value and worth, exactly as they are. It is my sincere hope that this body will continue to honor the dignity and worth of each person in our community by continuing to include LGBTQ+ literature in the classroom in every grade level.
Thank you for your time.
Rev. Carissa Surber
Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist Church
Faith Communities of Baltimore With Pride 
Leave a comment