Supreme Court to Hear Parental Rights Case Over LGBTQ Books in Schools

Parents challenge a Maryland school district's policy prohibiting opt-outs from lessons featuring LGBTQ-themed storybooks, citing religious freedom concerns.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case brought by parents challenging a Maryland school district's refusal to allow opt-outs for lessons involving LGBTQ-themed books.
The dispute arose after Montgomery County Public Schools reversed its initial policy permitting parents to excuse their children from such lessons, citing administrative challenges and potential stigmatization of students.
The parents, from Muslim, Christian, and Orthodox faiths, argue the policy violates their First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion by exposing their children to content conflicting with their beliefs.
Lower courts previously ruled against the parents, stating that exposure to the books does not compel students to change their religious beliefs or conduct.
The case, expected to be heard in the spring, highlights broader tensions between parental rights, religious liberty, and public school curriculum decisions.