An AACC adjunct professor running for a seat on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education made negative remarks about the LGBTQ community at a June fundraiser.
LaToya Nkongolo, a mental health therapist who has taught human services courses at AACC since 2015, did not respond to Campus Current’s requests for an interview. But in a video of her June 22 remarks, Nkongolo said the county school system’s pro-LGBTQ policies are “causing mental illness.”
The LGBTQ advocacy group Annapolis Pride and the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County distributed a link to the video, along with a statement calling Nkongolo “irresponsible” for her characterization of LGBTQ individuals.
Nkongolo, a Republican who is running in District 5, called the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system an “institution of grooming” and said she opposes non-gendered restrooms and does not want to see “boys … playing girls’ sports.”
“[I’m] disappointed and appalled that she is a … teacher here at AACC [who] would misrepresent queer identities as mental illnesses,” Ellie Jasen, a sixth-year mechatronics student, said. “Especially when she’s in a position where new … students would be learning from her.”
Jasen, president of AACC’s Gender and Sexualities Alliance, said campus students are “entirely justified” to be upset with her.
“If these are the beliefs … that she holds [as] a … teacher, and the ones that she’s maybe passing on to her students, that could widely affect the queer community as a whole,” Jasen said.
Jasen added: “It is important in this day and age to ensure, especially mental health professionals, do not misunderstand or misrepresent queer identities as mental illness.”
Jasen also referred to Nkongolo’s arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol in January. The charge was dropped when she pleaded guilty to negligent driving.
“I cannot say that I would trust someone who drinks and drives to make responsible decisions,” Jasen said. “I personally would not trust them in a position on the Board of Education.”
Finch Cobb, a first-year EMT student, agreed.
“I don’t believe that someone that would intentionally make a poor decision should be in charge of the children in Anne Arundel County schools,” Cobb said. “I feel like it would be a horrible representation of what we stand for as a county.”
Cobb said AACC should take action against Nkongolo.
Jasen, a transgender woman, agreed.
“I do not believe that AACC should continue to support or employ someone who has publicly stated any kind of discriminatory values against the queer community,” Jasen said.