The United States Supreme Court ruled six to three on Friday in favor of a group of Maryland parents seeking opt-outs to prevent their children from being exposed to LGBTQ books and materials “designed to ‘disrupt’ children’s thinking about sexuality and gender.” According to the Montgomery County, Maryland School Board, teachers are not required to notify parents when using LGBTQ materials, prompting the parents to sue and seek an injunction against the policy.
“Today, we hold that the parents have shown that they are entitled to a preliminary injunction. A government burdens the religious exercise of parents when it requires them to submit their children to instruction that poses ‘a very real threat of undermining’ the religious beliefs and practices that the parents wish to instill,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority. “And a government cannot condition the benefit of free public education on parents’ acceptance of such instruction. Based on these principles, we conclude that the parents are likely to succeed in their challenge to the Board’s policies.”
