The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that parents have the right to opt their children out of reading books in public school that push a particular view on gender and sexuality.
“A government burdens the religious exercise of parents when it requires them to submit their children to instruction that poses ‘a very real threat of undermining’ the religious beliefs and practices that the parents wish to instill,” wrote Samuel Alito, an associate justice on the high court, in the majority opinion.
“A government cannot condition the benefit of free public education on parents’ acceptance of such instruction,” Alito wrote. “Based on these principles, we conclude that the parents are likely to succeed in their challenge to the board’s policies.”
The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, centered on the Montgomery County, Md., education board’s introduction of a “LGBTQ+ inclusive” book in its elementary-school curriculum.
“These books, and associated educational instructions provided to teachers, are designed to ‘disrupt’ children’s thinking about sexuality and gender,” Alito wrote. “The board has told parents that it will not give them notice when the books are going to be used and that their children’s attendance during those periods is mandatory.”
A group of parents, from different faiths, sued the school board.
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, stated that the high court’s decision “is a victory for both parental rights and religious freedom.”
“Parents have the right to raise their children how they see fit, and this includes how and when to expose them to certain topics,” Walberg stated. “I stand firmly with the parents of Montgomery County and across the country who are rejecting this dangerous idea that they should be sidelined from their children’s education.”
“Parents know their children best and should always have a seat at the table when it comes to what their kids are taught,” he said.
“This is a historic victory for parental rights in Maryland and across America,” said Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket.
“Kids shouldn’t be forced into conversations about drag queens, pride parades or gender transitions without their parents’ permission,” Baxter said. “Today, the court restored common sense and made clear that parents, not government, have the final say in how their children are raised.”