Eric Daxon, a Harford County Public Schools parent, acknowledges that his 7-year-old daughter tells him "no" – when he tells her to do something – "on a regular basis."
Daxon says members of the county's Board of Education should have taken the same stance earlier this month when federal government announced that any school system receiving federal funding must accommodate transgender students.
"If this executive decree was handed down to me, and I was sitting in your position, the first answer should have been, 'no,' and let the people that we elected to speak for us decide," Daxon, a resident of Bel Air, said during the first school board meeting since the transgender accommodations announcement by HCPS.
He and two other members of the Facebook Group Protect Our Children expressed concerns about what they see as the federal government forcing local school systems to accept policies. The group had 285 members as of Monday night.
President Barack Obama announced May 13 that the Justice Department and the Department of Education had issued advisories to public school systems across the country about accommodating transgender students, or risk violating the federal Title IX law that prohibits gender discrimination.
HCPS issued its statement the same day that it would follow the federal guidelines. The statement was sent by HCPS Manager of Communications Jillian Lader "on behalf of the school system," according to Lader.
Since then, community reaction has been mixed, as reported last week by The Aegis.
Daxon, who was an unsuccessful candidate for Harford County Council in 2014, described Obama as "the guy that passes executive orders telling us how to use the restroom."
"My argument would be if, they can tell us that, what can't they tell us?" he said. "There's nothing they can't tell us, and then they threaten funds to top it off."
Parent Joshua Bruno, a resident of Shawsville in northern Harford County, stressed he did not want to talk about "ideology" regarding transgender people, but the "issue of government overreach."
The father of two children noted that, if the school system "can issue an acceptance of a decree without a voice [from the community], that's of some concern."
"There was no voice of the people, or even the [school] board members," he said.
Bruno said he is also concerned for the safety of his children and other students, and he asked board members what "safeguards" will be in place, plus if they think "we were properly given a voice."
"I can't speak for anyone else, but there is concern and I urge you to address this," Bruno said.
He did not get a public response to his questions from board members, though.
"We have a moral obligation to protect our children at all times and all places," Al Smith, a third member of Protect Our Children, said.
Smith read Article 36 of the Declaration of Rights in the Maryland Constitution, which applies to religious liberty.
"That as it is the duty of every man to worship God in such manner as he thinks most acceptable to Him, all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore, no person ought by any law to be molested in his person or estate, on account of his religious persuasion, or profession, or for his religious practice, unless, under the color of religion, he shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality, or injure others in their natural, civil or religious rights," Smith said, reading from the article.
"The Maryland Constitution even says we have a moral obligation," he said. "This is a Christian nation; if you read the Declaration of Independence, it will tell you."
Article 36 includes an amendment, ratified in 1970, that states "Nothing in this article shall constitute an establishment of religion," according to the Maryland Manual On-Line.
According to the school system's May 13 announcement: "Harford County Public Schools will work with the State Superintendent, and the Maryland State Department of Education and other resources, to develop any procedures and practices that may be necessary to implement this requirement. In doing so, Harford County Public Schools will act consistent with its commitment that all students, including transgender students, enjoy a safe and discrimination-free school environment."
In a follow-up email, Lader wrote: "In the meantime, we will continue the support we have provided to the relatively small number of transgender students who are currently enrolled in Harford County Public Schools, as we have done for many years.
"Harford County Public Schools leadership will continue to work with school administrators to provide access to alternative facilities in our buildings, including a private restroom, for any student if requested. We will continue to work with our transgender students and their families to develop a plan to address the student's particular circumstances and needs."