The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating on a case concerning the religious rights of parents in Maryland who wish to exclude their children from elementary school classes that utilize storybooks featuring LGBTQ characters. This case marks the latest in a series of religious-related disputes to be addressed by the predominantly conservative court, which has shown a tendency to support claims of religious discrimination in recent years.
The Montgomery County public schools, located in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., incorporated these storybooks as part of an initiative to more accurately reflect the diverse demographics of the district. However, parents initiated legal action after the school district ceased permitting them to withdraw their children from lessons that included these books. These parents contend that public schools should not compel students to engage in instruction that contradicts their religious beliefs, referencing the opt-out policies available in sex education classes. The schools argue that permitting students to opt out of such lessons had become increasingly disruptive, a stance that was supported by lower courts and led to the parents’ appeal to the Supreme Court.
The case under scrutiny involves five specific books that explore themes similar to those of traditional fairy tales like “Snow White,” “Cinderella,” and “Peter Pan,” according to the school district’s legal representatives. Among the books are “Prince and Knight,” where two men fall in love following their joint rescue of the kingdom; “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” which depicts a niece’s concern over her uncle’s time after marrying his male partner; and “Love, Violet,” which highlights a girl’s apprehension about giving a valentine to another girl. “Born Ready” recounts the story of a transgender boy disclosing his gender identity to his family and society, while “Intersection Allies” features nine characters of diverse backgrounds, including one who identifies as gender-fluid.
Billy Moges, a member of the Kids First parents’ group that filed the lawsuit, described the content as sexual, confusing, and unsuitable for young schoolchildren. Conversely, the writers’ organization Pen America, in a judicial filing, argued that the parents are essentially advocating for a book ban under a different guise. Pen America also noted that over 10,000 books faced bans in the previous academic year.
The Supreme Court’s decision in the case, titled Mahmoud v. Taylor, is anticipated to be delivered by early summer.
