Supreme Court decides whether to allow parents to shield children from LGBTQ books in school
Muslim and Christian families sought opt-out option for elementary school students in Maryland case
By Ashley Oliver Fox News
Published June 27, 2025 11:01am EDT
The Supreme Court held Friday that a group of Maryland parents are entitled to opt their children out of school lessons that could violate their beliefs, in a case centered on religious freedom.
The justices decided 6-3 along ideological lines in Mahmoud v. Taylor that parents can exclude their children from a Maryland public school system's lessons that contain themes about homosexuality and transgenderism if they feel it conflicts with their religious faith.
"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," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority. "And a government cannot condition the benefit of free public education on parents’ acceptance of such instruction."
Montgomery County Public Schools began incorporating books into their preschool through 12th grade language arts curriculums a few years ago that featured "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer characters," the school district’s attorneys told the Supreme Court. The attorneys said the school district did this as part of an effort to be "culturally responsive" and teach lessons that encourage "equity, respect, and civility."
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