Supreme Court signals support for Maryland parents who object to LGBTQ books in public schools

The conservative majority of the Supreme Court indicated their support for the religious rights of parents in Maryland who wish to withdraw their children from elementary school classes featuring LGBTQ characters in storybooks. The court appears likely to rule against the Montgomery County school system’s requirement for children to participate in lessons involving such books if parents have religious objections. This case is part of a series of religious disputes brought before the court, where claims of religious discrimination have been upheld by the justices in recent times.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed surprise at the resistance to respecting religious freedom in this particular case, considering the county’s diverse population and Maryland’s history as a sanctuary for Catholics. The introduction of storybooks with LGBTQ themes by the county school board was meant to reflect the district’s diversity, but parents sued after being prohibited from opting their children out of these lessons. They argue that public schools should not compel students to partake in instruction that contradicts their faith, pointing to opt-out provisions in sex education classes.

The school system argued that allowing children to opt out of these lessons caused disruptions. Despite lower courts ruling in favor of the schools, the parents appealed to the Supreme Court. The case in question involves five books that touch on themes similar to classic stories like Snow White, Cinderella, and Peter Pan, according to the school system’s attorneys.

The content of the books was criticized by Billy Moges, a member of the Kids First parents’ group, who sued over the material, deeming it sexual, confusing, and unsuitable for young students. On the other hand, the writers’ group Pen America argued that the parents’ desire equates to a potentially unconstitutional book ban in a different guise. More than 10,000 books were reportedly banned during the last school year, according to Pen America.

A ruling in the Mahmoud v. Taylor case is anticipated by early summer.