A potentially game-changing case about LGBTQ+ inclusion in classrooms is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, was brought by Christian and Muslim parents who object to LGBTQ themed books being used in a Maryland school district.
These parents, backed by the conservative Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, are asking the court to require schools to notify them before their children are taught any material they believe contains “instruction on gender and sexuality in violation of their parents’ religious beliefs.” They also want the right to opt their kids out of such lessons. If the Court sides with the parents, it could effectively introduce a nationwide “Don’t Say Gay” rule.
The decision could make it nearly impossible for teachers to freely discuss queer themes without needing to warn parents and possibly excuse students from class discussions. Critics say this would set a dangerous precedent, elevating one group’s religious objections above all others.
As legal scholars note, the Constitution doesn’t permit schools to provide accommodation to one faith — in this case, parents with anti-LGBTQ+ religious beliefs — when it doesn’t provide those same accommodations to other faith or non-faith groups. Now, with a 6–3 conservative majority, the court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor could determine whether LGBTQ+ identities are welcome in public education or erased entirely.
