In a decisive 6–3 ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court reinforced religious freedom by siding with parents fighting LGBTQ-themed books used in elementary schools in Montgomery County, Maryland.
At the heart of the case was whether the Montgomery County Board of Education violated the First Amendment’s free exercise clause by refusing to allow parents to opt their children out of the curriculum.
Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, declared that the school board’s decision to include “LGBTQ+ inclusive” storybooks without offering an opt-out option “places an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.”
The ruling underscores the Court’s growing willingness—driven by a 6–3 conservative majority—to protect parental and religious rights in public education.
Supreme Court case: The case began in 2022 when Montgomery County revamped its English language arts curriculum, introducing books like Uncle Bobby’s Wedding (featuring a gay character) and Born Ready (about a transgender child).
Although teachers were not required to use these books, the board initially assured parents they could exclude their children from LGBTQ-themed lessons.
That promise was later revoked, prompting a lawsuit from Muslim parents—Tamer Mahmoud and Enas Barakat—alongside Catholic, Ukrainian Orthodox families,