Did you know that your child’s school could be celebrating Aromantic Awareness Week, International Transgender Day of Visibility, or transgender-ideology saturated National Day of Reading in just a few short weeks?
The “Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network” (GLSEN), a national activist organization that works to insert LGBTQ ideology in the public school system, posts a yearly “GLSEN School Year Calendar” for educators and students, encouraging the use of this calendar to schedule GSA meetings, lesson plans, student events, and workshops for staff.
One of the recommended books for this year’s National Day of Reading, “A World Worth Saving” by Kyle Lukoff, follows A, a biological female identifying as a male, and her fight against the “Save Our Sons and Daughters” organization, whose meetings her parents require her to attend. The author writes that in the meetings, “A and his friends Sal and Yarrow sit by while their parents deadname them and wring their hands over a nonexistent ‘transgender craze.’” The plot reveals that the organization is actually run by a demon – and that “the entire world is beset by demons dining on what seems like an endless buffet of pain and bigotry.”
This is only one of the books recommended by the Human Rights Campaign to be read on the National Day of Reading. The other books are pictured above. We encourage you to ask your child’s school whether they are participating in this observance, and if they are, to opt your child out.
In addition to National Day of Reading, there may be other pro-LGBTQ observances your child’s school participates in. Each year, MFI and Massachusetts Informed Parents review GLSEN’s calendar to inform parents about sexuality-related observances, like those promoted by GLSEN, that could appear in classrooms. In response, we created our own calendar to keep parents informed.
The Sex on the School Calendar 2025-2026 edition focuses on events and observances related to sexuality and gender identity that we believe are most likely to show up in MA schools. Please share this graphic widely. While we strongly encourage you to ask your child’s school whether they are participating in any of these observances, protecting your children from sexualization and indoctrination in school doesn’t stop there.
Opting out of sex ed is an important first step. Parents can also consider these action items:
- Email the school principal and ask if the school, or any club or student activity group, will be observing any of these days. If a response is not received, send a follow-up email and copy the superintendent.
- Check out the school district’s social media accounts, emails, and newsletters from the previous year to see if any of these events were held. Sign up for all communications from the school for the new school year. Watch for email notifications and read them diligently.
- Talk to your child in an age-appropriate way about special events that might be celebrated at school. Ask them to tell you about events they hear about. If your child mentions something that sounds concerning, contact the school for more details.
- If your child’s school plans to observe one of these days without offering an opt-out, you have several choices. Some parents choose to keep their child home that day, while others discuss the issue with their child beforehand, equipping them with tools to understand their family’s perspective. Older children may use the opportunity to respectfully express their views to teachers and classmates. Additionally, if the event is sponsored by a GSA, students might consider starting their own club, such as a Bible study or free speech group, to host alternative events.
- Spread the word to inform other parents about what’s happening. Attend school committee meetings together to make public comments or email your concerns to the School Committee—or better yet, do both! Even if immediate changes aren’t seen, raising public awareness fosters transparency and accountability.
- Remember that your child has legal rights, including the right to free speech. If you feel your child’s rights have been violated at any time for speaking up about these events, or if they have been punished for not participating, contact the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center.
- Lastly, please stay connected with us. To stay informed about issues in MA public schools we invite you to join Massachusetts Informed Parents on Facebook and subscribe to the Substack. If you have any updates about your local school or questions about something happening in your district that concerns you, email Jess Richardson, jess@mafamily.org. We value your involvement and look forward to keeping in touch.
Parents, we know it can feel overwhelming working to protect your children from harmful messages in school, but don’t lose heart. Knowledge is power. Knowing that a problem exists is the first step in proactively safeguarding your children, and you’ve already got that covered by plugging into MFI and MIP. If you need help addressing an issue in your child’s school, let us know. Supporting parents is always on our calendar.
To support MFI in the fight to protect parental rights in the Commonwealth, consider giving a generous donation today!
