The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 on Friday that public schools violate the First Amendment when they refuse to let parents opt their children out of lessons featuring LGBT-themed books. The decision is a major triumph for religious families and parental-rights advocates.
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Case background: Catholic, Muslim, and Ukrainian Orthodox parents sued Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland after the district required students—even as young as pre-K—to read storybooks like Prince and Knight (a prince falls in love with another prince) and Uncle Bobby’s Wedding (a girl’s uncle marries a man).
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Lower courts: Judges in Maryland had blocked the parents’ request for an opt-out.
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High-court ruling: Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the school district “burdened the religious exercise” of parents by forcing children to absorb material that directly contradicts family beliefs. Alito stressed that the district encouraged teachers to “reprimand any children who disagree.”
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Dissent: Justice Sonia Sotomayor—joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson—argued the ruling gives parents a veto over curriculum decisions and will “reverberate for generations.”
Parents and religious liberty groups cheered the outcome. Rosalind Hanson, a plaintiff and chair of Moms for Liberty in Montgomery County, said the decision protects children from “forced exposure” to sensitive topics without parental consent. Eric Baxter, senior counsel at Becket, called it a “historic victory” confirming that parents, not schools, direct a child’s upbringing.
President Donald Trump praised the ruling from the White House briefing room: “A tremendous victory for parents.”