LGBTQIA+ Student Group Not Satisfied With FCPS Official's Apology

FAIRFAX — The Pride Liberation Project, which represents LGBTQIA+ students in Fairfax County, said Thursday that it was not satisfied with at-large school board member Abrar Omeish's response to the group's recent public letter criticizing her.

"We appreciate Ms. Omeish’s response and her receptiveness to engage in constructive dialogue, though are disappointed to see her fail to commit to repairing her relationship with the queer community," said a PLP statement, released on Thursday.

The disagreement between the PLP and Omeish began last Friday, when the group published its letter criticizing the school board member for making "bigoted remarks" during a June 21 phone meeting. The purpose of the call was to discuss the challenges queer students of South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African background encountered in the school system.

During the phone meeting, Omeish told the students she didn't believe she could be a "100 percent ally" of the queer community, according to PLP's letter, and she claimed it would be a "challenge" to outwardly endorse or encourage queer students.

In its letter, PLP asked Omeish to apologize for her remarks, publicly reaffirm her support for queer students, and explain recent actions she had made during school board meetings.

Omeish released a response on Monday in which she clarified her position on a June 17 school board vote over a motion to update the language in the Family, Life, and Education (FLE) curriculum to include non-traditional family structures, such as families with two same-sex parents. She also affirmed that queer students should have access to a safe home.

However, PLP said Thursday that Omeish had failed to address four other issues raised in its July 16 letter regarding what was said during the phone meeting.

According to PLP's latest statement, Omeish failed to:

1. "Completely disavow the statements she made in the meeting, and acknowledge and apologize for the hurt and pain they caused.
2. "Acknowledge that you cannot be an equity ally if you are not a 100 percent ally of the queer community.
3. "Commit to including queer issues in her policy platform and promote queer representation.
4. "Issue a broad affirmation of queer students that went beyond a simple rejection of harassment."

"Her failure to issue a comprehensive apology is especially disappointing given the harm she caused," the PLP letter said.

Rayan Afif, an Arab-American Muslim student and PLP member who was on the call with Omeish, said in a Twitter post they felt helpless by her "empty worded" apology.

"Her statement never disavowed her harmful language, it did not unequivocally affirm the queer community, and it did not commit to including queer issues in her policy platform and promoting queer representation," Afif said. "Personally, I'd like to see her apologize straight on for the pain she has caused and I'd like to see her actively taking the work to educate herself."

At 12:31 p.m. on Thursday, Omeish reshared her statement from Monday on her official Twitter account. She included the comment:

"I repeat now & always: I reject & don’t ever accept misuse of my words for division or hate. When we feel unsettled, confused or have misunderstandings, we must be truth-seekers. It’s an opportunity. Let’s think critically, be curious, & show compassion to advance all our kids."

Related:

LGBTQIA+ Group Receives Apology From Fairfax School Official

LGBTQIA+ Students Criticize School Official's 'Bigoted Comments'

I attended the @PrideLiberation’s meeting with @AbrarOmeish as an Arab-American Queer Muslim. The meeting was far from expected. It created a negative and traumatic experience for me. Read my statement below. https://t.co/ebzCl0yTRE pic.twitter.com/z1OCQP1UGa
— ريان عفيف (@rainnafif) July 22, 2021

I repeat now & always: I reject & don’t ever accept misuse of my words for division or hate.

When we feel unsettled, confused or have misunderstandings, we must be truth-seekers. It’s an opportunity.

Let’s think critically, be curious, & show compassion to advance all our kids. https://t.co/eDU90dFy8r pic.twitter.com/E6eTHjL5cW
— Abrar Omeish (@AbrarOmeish) July 22, 2021