Scotus takes cases with LGBTQ+, school comprehensive books
Protesters on both sides protested as the Supreme Court heard about the district’s lawsuits regarding parental rights and LGBTQ+ books.
- On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision that allows parents to select their children from the LGBTQ+ theme curriculum, based on religious objections.
- While religious and conservative parental rights groups are pleased, teachers, authors and civil rights advocates have issued warnings that schools could soon become inclusive.
The nation’s highest courts speak, but the debate over children’s exposure to LGBTQ+ literature and culture in American schools is not over.
While religious and conservative parental rights groups are pleased, teachers, authors and civil rights advocates have issued warnings that schools could soon become inclusive after a U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow parents to separate their children from lessons with material challenged on religious grounds.
Montgomery County Public School parents, including Muslims, Roman Catholics and Ukrainian orthodox followers, advocated district policies that prohibit them from opting out of invading their initial amendment rights to exercise their religious beliefs freely.
On June 27, the Supreme Court agreed with them in a 6-3 decision, saying American parents should be able to remove children from class in order to protect their families’ religious ideology.
The book on LGBTQ+ teaching and characters “doublely conveys certain perspectives on same-sex marriage and gender,” Judge Samuel Alito wrote on behalf of the court majority. He said the courts have long recognized the right for parents to direct their children to religious development.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which supported Maryland school district policies, said the district’s curriculum, which began in 2022, includes elementary school picture books with LGBTQ+ characters, was designed to be secular, age-friendly and inclusive. The ACLU called the decision “very disappointing.”
“This decision complicates our work in creating a welcoming, inclusive and equitable school system,” district spokesman Liliana Lopez said in an email to USA Today on behalf of the district and the Montgomery Board of Education. “It also sends a cold message to many precious members of our diverse community.
Public schools face increased surveillance over what is being taught in the classroom, increased pressure from conservative parents, and additional surveillance over the programs and curriculum they provide to LGBTQ+ youth. The court’s decision represents parental celebrations and panic across the political spectrum.
The Supreme Court decision is pushing the sloppy of President Donald Trump and several conservative custody groups on LGBTQ+ programming in schools. The Trump administration supported his Maryland parents in the incident, saying the school “put a price on the public interest of public education at the expense of advancing your religious beliefs.”
What does it mean for school culture?
The fear of unnecessary environments in public schools for LGBTQ+ students exploded after the decision.
LGBTQ+ students are already more likely to be rejected, bullyed, discriminated and violence in schools. These students are at increased risk for mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and suicide attempts, according to data from the Child Mind Institute.
An ACLU lawyer said the Supreme Court’s decision “may have widespread consequences on our ability to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that reflects the diversity of the public school community.”
The decision promotes the mission of Trump and his education department to ban programming on schools LGTBQ+ and other social and racial justice issues.
This year, the Trump administration called for public funding programs for public schools that support diversity, equity and inclusion in schools. DEI programming includes programming that provides LGBTQ+ student support.
The U.S. Department of Education cannot directly manage classroom curricula in the hands of states. However, it says it will cut federal funds to violate federal civil rights laws if it fails to comply with the order. (Thousands of schools in more than 12 states are opposed.)
The Supreme Court’s decision will result in “failing chaos in public schools, impairing the ability of students to implement basic curriculum decisions and prepare students to live in our pluralistic society,” said Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU’s Religion and Confession Freedom Program.
Mach called religious freedom “fundamentally important.” However, he said freedom should not “have exempt public schools from secular lessons that do not align with family religious views.”
Parents who say schools shouldn’t teach their children about these issues are looking for a more welcoming place for their families.
“This is a historic victory over parental rights in Maryland and across the United States. Children should not force conversations about drug queens, pride parades or gender transitions without their parents’ permission.” “Today, the courts have restored common sense and made clear that parents, not government, have the final say on how they raise their children.”
Meanwhile, teachers are brave about how the arbitration affects lesson plans, students and classrooms.
“By creating new unnecessary legal rules that burden hardworking educators and disrupt their ability to teach, the courts are effectively inserting daily education decisions about what students can learn and teach,” says Miguel Gonzalez, spokesman for the National Education Association.
What about the school’s religion?
The religious groups praised the Supreme Court’s decision.
Their support comes during a wave of GOPs seeking more religion in schools.
Oklahoma education officials have ordered public schools to teach the Bible. He also wanted state funding for controversial religious charter schools in a deadlocked 4-4 decision earlier this year before the idea was shut down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Louisiana leaders have directed schools to display 10 commandments, which have been blocked by federal courts. Texas leaders proposed a curriculum that incorporates biblical lessons. Parents and faith leaders filed a lawsuit against it.
Some school administrators and civil rights advocates fought back by saying these duties violated the rights of students. Cecilia Wang, ACLU’s national legal director, said she is concerned about the court’s decision to side with her parents in the case, as it could affect the school’s ability to implement future lessons that could “cause religious opposition.”
“For the first time now, parents who challenge religiously are empowered to choose from a secular public school curriculum that hinders the district’s legitimate educational objectives and the ability to run schools without confusion. Ironically, there are differences when the curriculum is designed to promote politeness and understanding,” Wang wrote in an email.
How about book bans?
Maryland parents who sued the district said they didn’t want to remove the book from school. But Ellie Brinkley, a staff lawyer for the free speech advocacy group Penn America, said a ban on further books across the country’s public schools is likely to be the result of a court decision.
“By allowing parents to pull their children out of the classroom when opposing certain content, justice lays the foundation for a new frontier in attacks on all sorts of books in schools,” Brinkley said. “This will exacerbate that devastating trend.”
The majority of the 16,000 books that have been banned in schools since 2021 are LGBTQ+-themed. According to data from Pen America. Group data states a ban on books that has almost tripled between the 2023-2024 school years, with more than 10,000 books being banned in public schools.
Parents who advocated a national ban on books often say that the content is inappropriate for the school environment. Or they oppose the content of the literature and do not want the child to be exposed to it.
A group of authors and illustrators named in the Maryland case said they disagree with the court’s decision. These include the authors and illustrators of LGBTQ+-themed books: “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding”, “Jacob’s Room of Choice”, “Love, Violet”.
“We believe that young people need to see their own and their families in the books they read. This is especially true for LGBTQ+ children and LGBTQ+ families,” they wrote in an email. “And every child needs to learn how to share their classrooms and communities with people who are different to them.
Contributions: Maureen Groppe, Thao Nguyen; USA TODAY
Please contact Kayla Jimenez (kjimenez@usatoday.com). Follow her on the X on @kaylajjimenez.
