The Supreme Court of the United States is currently deliberating a case that brings into question the religious rights of Maryland parents seeking to exempt their children from elementary school classes featuring storybooks with LGBTQ characters. This case represents the latest in a series of religious disputes reviewed by the court, which has recently shown a tendency to uphold claims of religious discrimination.
Montgomery County public schools, part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, incorporated these storybooks into their curriculum to reflect the district’s diverse demographic. However, when the school system discontinued allowing parents to withdraw their children from lessons involving these books, a lawsuit was filed. The parents assert that public schools should not compel students to partake in lessons that conflict with their religious beliefs, highlighting opt-out options available in sex education classes.
The school district contends that permitting opt-outs from these lessons proved to be disruptive. Lower court rulings favored the schools, leading to an appeal to the Supreme Court. At the heart of the Supreme Court case are five books that address themes similar to those in traditional tales like Snow White, Cinderella, and Peter Pan.
The books in question include “Prince and Knight,” which tells the story of two men falling in love while saving a kingdom. “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding” portrays a niece concerned about her uncle’s availability after his marriage to a male partner. “Love, Violet” explores a girl’s nervousness about presenting a valentine to another girl. “Born Ready” is about a transgender boy revealing his gender identity to his family and society. “Intersection Allies” features nine characters from diverse backgrounds, including a gender-fluid individual.
Billy Moges, a board member of the Kids First parents’ group that initiated the lawsuit, criticized the content as being sexually explicit, confusing, and unsuitable for young children. Conversely, the writers’ organization Pen America, in a court document, described the parental request as akin to an unconstitutional book ban. They noted that over 10,000 books were banned in the previous school year.
A ruling in the case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, is anticipated by early summer.