USPIE’S NOVEMBER MILLSTONE AWARD
This is an important case because it puts the spotlight on how government schools are run and who decides operating policies
A Maryland judge overruled a county school board and ordered that “Flamer,” a book that is basically a coming-out gay manual for boys, be kept available to middle school and high school students.
For putting political wokeness over the best interests of minors, Harford County Judge Yolanda Curtin is the recipient of the November 2026 Millstone Award from United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE). “This is an important case because it puts the spotlight on how government schools are run and who decides operating policies.”
USPIE’s Millstone of the Month is the award someone never wants to receive; it is given to the person involved in government schools who has committed the most egregious acts against children.
“Flamer” is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel by gay activist Mike Curato about a Boy Scout at a summer camp in the 1990s. It contains sexual imagery, including implied masturbation and profanity.
“The Board ultimately voted to remove the book, citing clear violations of HCPS’s [Harford County Public Schools] selection procedure, which prohibits materials with obscene language, sexually explicit content, or depictions of illegal or violent acts inappropriate for the age group served,” said Harford County Board of Education President Aaron Poynton, according to CBS News in Baltimore. “This was not about censorship. It was about age-appropriate access and upholding our duty of care.”
A reconsideration committee decided unanimously to keep the book in Harford County schools. The elected county school board voted to ban the book anyway in June 2025. But the state Board of Education, whose members are appointed, not elected, ordered it reinstated.
The county board voted to appeal to Harford County Circuit Court, filing a petition for judicial review. The ACLU of Maryland and the Maryland State Education Association teacher’s union argued in defense of keeping the book. On Oct. 22, 2026, Curtin rejected the appeal, saying the “collective wisdom of the board” is not enough to overturn the reconsideration committee’s review.
In her ruling, Curtin cited Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act, which states that material cannot be removed from school libraries based on political, religious or personal views.
The Maryland Freedom to Read Act is a serious government overreach. It empowers unelected so-called experts to override an elected board. School boards should be committed to protecting children from pornography and limiting their exposure to overt sexuality and foul language.
Entrusting an unelected committee to make the correct decision is empowering an administrative state and disempowering the voters who elected the school board. Parents have no recourse except to pull their kids out of these trashy environments, which USPIE strongly recommends.
USPIE also encourages folks to watch for similar legislation coming to their state soon.
To hear more from USPIE’s Founder and President, Sheri Few, tune in to the latest episode of USPIE’s podcast, “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few,” on Tuesday, November 3, where Few is joined by Alvin Lui, president of Courage Is A Habit. On this episode, Few and Lui discuss his organization’s resources, as well as their investigation of the American School Counselor Association and its relationship with the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Listen to “Unmasking Government Schools with Sheri Few” on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and X.