Responses of Mai Abdul Rahman to GLAA 2007 Questionnaire
for D.C. Board of Education Candidates
| Yes/No | Substance | Record | Championship | Total |
| 2 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 5.5 |
1. Do you recognize the right of our public school students to organize clubs to promote gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender civil rights, to combat homophobic and transphobic violence and prejudice, and to provide socializing opportunities for GLBT youth?
Discrimination of any kind is against my principles. As an educator, I understand how important it is to model respect and deference to all people regardless of color, gender, sexual preference, social status or learning style of ability. So, Children who want to organize, celebrate and display their pride of who they are must be encouraged and allowed especially in the Middle and High Schools.
2. Do you recognize the right of students to bring dates of the same sex to school proms and other official public school social functions?
Schools lead in breaking stereo types and as such must lead in providing a safe haven for gay, lesbian and all other kids.
3. Will you oppose efforts to restrict or censor books or other materials in our public school libraries that discuss homosexuality in a positive and supportive manner?
As long as the books are appropriate in language and design for the specific age groups of students targeted- there should be no obstacle to have these books available at school libraries.
4. Do you support the right of non-profit groups to provide DCPS school libraries with gay-positive books which are openly displayed and freely available to all students?
Again, as long as the same criteria for age appropriateness is honored. That means children in PRE- K should not be exposed to the same books that a high school student is exposed to.
5. Do you support efforts by Metro DC PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) to work constructively with our local public schools to provide support groups and to help implement anti-harassment policies?
Absolutely! Many of my students were parented by gay or lesbian parents, and I often wanted their families to come to my classroom and participate and engage my students in ways that help all students understand and accept same sex parents.
6. Do you favor training programs for professional development of teachers, counselors, and other school system staff, such as those offered by the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), to help these professionals nurture positive identity formation for GLBT students and prevent harassment and bullying in the classroom?
Absolutely! Teachers are important in conveying and modeling positive attitudes about sexuality. Bullying is a problem that plagues our classrooms, any serious effort to address and prevent bullying and harassment are welcomed.
7. From time to time, D.C. public school teachers have invited openly gay men and women to speak in their classes and to answer students’ questions about homosexuality. Do you support the right of our teachers to continue inviting such speakers?
Yes. Today many of our public school students are parented by same sex parents. These children and families deserve the same rights and support offered to other groups who attend our schools and are part of our society.
8. The recent report by the Appleseed Center detailed many shortcomings in the District’s condom distribution program, as only 125,000 condoms were distributed in 2005, far below the goal of 600,000. Will you support a reinvigoration of the DCPS condom availability program, operated by the Department of Health?
When I worked as QA program manager for an AID project, our government promoted the use and distribution of condoms in Africa. These programs were considered protective measure for sexually active men and women. I see no reason why our government and public institutions should have a different policy in providing condoms to our young men and women here in the US and our city. We need to urge our council to push for greater funding and distribution of condoms in our city through the Department of Health and other health and non profit institutions.
9. Will you work to implement a comprehensive sex education program in the D.C. Public Schools that teaches that homosexuality is part of the normal range of human sexuality, consistent with existing DCPS policy?
Yes. As many of our students have identified themselves as gay or lesbian, they need to learn about their sexuality in an open, informative and comprehensive manner.
10. Will you oppose the use of either federal or District taxpayer funds to promote so-called “abstinence only until marriage” sex education that undermines safer-sex programs by discouraging the use of condoms and that effectively tells lesbian and gay male students that they must be celibate forever because they may not legally marry?
Yes. Sex education is critical to our children's ability to lead a healthy and safe sex life.
11. Do you support the full implementation of the DCPS Sexual Harassment and Harassment Policy, which protects public school students from physical and verbal abuse based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity (DCMR Title 5, Education: 2503.2.g-h)?
Absolutely. Any position that will tolerate harassing and bullying children should be struck down and condemned by our council, city officials, DCPS, principals and teachers.
12. Will you oppose both federally and locally funded voucher programs that fund students in religious schools that are beyond the protections of the D.C. Human Rights Act?
It is dangerous to provide public funding for religious charter schools. Funding of institutions that promote one sect or religion are contrary to the constitution and our forefathers mandate to separate state functions from church functions.
For parents who desire to send their children to religious schools, there is a thriving parochial school system in the District of Columbia.
Please provide the URL for your campaign website, if you have one. We will include it on our candidate links page.
www.maifordcschoolboard.com
Your record is part of your rating. Please list any actions that you have taken that may help illustrate your record on behalf of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgenders.
Chairs: Mark Kagan & Jack Edmondson
Treasurer: Colevia Carter
