The Supreme Court has ruled on Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case that was started by the 2022 Montgomery County, Maryland school board decision to incorporate LGBTQ-inclusive books into classroom curriculum. Titles included “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” which features a same-sex couple, and “Born Ready,” which tells the story of a transgender child.
The school district had initially allowed parents to opt-out of the lessons, but later changed that policy citing “administrative burdens.” The case was brought to the courts by a coalition of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish parents who argued that removing the opt-out violated their religious freedoms. Beth Hoffman, a Maryland mom of two whose children attend school in the district, said to GMA of the decision:
“I think the ruling is a huge setback. Public schools should be an inclusive space. I hope that this isn’t an end-all be-all. We need to celebrate our differences and educate our youth to accept people for who they are.”
Liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented in the 6-3 ruling. They stated that exposure to diverse ideas is not the same as government indoctrination, but is instead the purpose of public education. HRC president Kelly Robinson said of the decision:
“Every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read and to be celebrated in their classrooms for who they truly are. This ruling not only tells LGBTQ+ students that they don’t belong, but that their experiences and existence are less worthy of respect. It’s wrong, it’s dangerous, and it’s cruel, plain and simple.”
