SCOTUS Hints at Decision for Queer Books in Classrooms

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A group of Maryland parents is taking legal action against the Montgomery County school district over children's books on LGBT identity in the classroom.
According to their lawsuit, parents accused the suburban school board of not allowing parents to opt out of their children learning about topics that go against their religious beliefs.

Keep reading for the details…


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The plaintiffs argued that the school board cannot force children to participate in lesson plans that go against their varying religious beliefs.
"The [school] board does not dispute that under its theory, it could compel instruction using p**********, and parents would have no rights," attorney Eric Baxter, who represents parent Tamer Mahmoud, said, according to the New York Post.
"The First Amendment demands more," Baxter argued. "Parents, not school boards, should have the final say on such religious matters."

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While the parents are hopeful that their little ones will be able to continue their education without conversations about romantic preferences, Justice Amy Coney Barrett clarified what the Supreme Court's role is in interpreting the case.
"We don't have to decide whether you get the opt-out," Coney Barrett clarified. "We just have to decide if the 4th Circuit accurately defined what a burden is."

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Later in the case, Amy Coney Barrett was candid with her concerns about whether or not the curriculum isn't exposing students to different concepts but framing things as "the right view of the world" and "how you should think about things."

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Justice Neil Gorsuch inquired about Pride Puppy, a children's book that was a part of the school's Pre-K but was later removed from the lesson plan.
Pride Puppy highlighted items that could be found at a pride parade, but select things could be considered inappropriate for small children.
"That's the one where they were supposed to look for the leather and bondage things like that," Justice Neil Gorsuch noted.

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Along with exploring topics about sexuality, the students were also given books on gender identity.
What Are Your Words? teaches children about pronouns — which the text claims can "change like the weather" — and highlights a kid who temporarily uses "they/them" pronouns.
In Born Ready, a boy is confused about how his sister is transitioning into a boy, and in the book, this mom tells him that "not everything needs to make sense."

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Parents claim the board guided teachers to tell students that "not everyone is a boy or girl."
"Do you think it's fair to say that all that is done in Uncle Bobby's Wedding is to expose children to the fact that there are men who marry other men?" Justice Samuel Alito asked Eric Baxter.

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Justice Elena Kagan reminded the parents' legal representative that they "did not want to draw lines" on when the decision for their kids to be removed from lessons wouldn't be honored.
"You're still not giving me anything other than if it's in a school and a sincere religious parent has an objection, that objection is always going to result in an opt-out, no matter what the instruction is like," she admitted.

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While the Supreme Court has yet to make a decision, the conservative majority is expected to rule in favor of the parents.