Prof. Darien Williams Co-Authors Historic Amicus Brief Defending Inclusive Education on Behalf of LGBTQ+ Muslims
Darien Alexander Williams, PhD, an assistant professor of macro practice at Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW), co-authored a historic amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court case Mahmoud v. Taylor that addresses whether public schools infringe upon parents’ religious freedoms by utilizing LGBTQ+ inclusive materials without opt-out provisions.
The brief was filed by Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) on behalf of eight organizations including Queer Muslims of Boston (QMOB) where Prof. Williams serves as a lead organizer and stewarded the input process.
The brief’s filing marked the first instance of LGBTQ+ Muslim organizations coming together to present a unified stance at the Supreme Court. Highlighting the nuanced experiences of queer Muslims, the brief advocated for inclusive educational practices that respect both religious and LGBTQ+ identities.
In a press release from A4TE, Prof. Williams said: “Our community is vast and includes so many ways of living, relating, and worshiping within its traditions … [Queer Muslims of Boston] affirms this in our work, especially alongside peer Muslim organizations that build spaces that hold this complexity rather than shut it out.”
As a faculty member in BUSSW’s Macro Practice Department who teaches community organizing, Prof. Williams’ participation in the amicus brief reflects a broader commitment to advocacy, social justice, and intersectionality, and a focus on systemic change. It’s also a prime example of the school’s mission to address complex societal issues through advocacy and scholarship.
Prof. Williams is a scholar, educator, and community organizer whose research centers on environmental and climate justice, engaging Black and Muslim urban planning history, hurricane disaster recovery, climate change, and community organizing.