The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a group of Maryland parents who challenged a school district’s refusal to allow their children to opt out of lessons featuring LGBTQ+-inclusive books. The majority opinion stated that requiring children to engage with material that directly contradicts their families’ religious beliefs may “pose a very real threat” to those beliefs and thus violate parents’ rights to freely exercise their religion.
The ruling cited specific titles, including Prince & Knight, as examples of content that could be seen as conflicting with certain religious teachings. The court emphasized that while public education is a government benefit, it cannot be made contingent upon the surrender of religious rights. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the decision a “victory for religious freedom and parental rights,” while advocacy groups are expected to continue legal debate over how such policies balance with inclusion and anti-discrimination standards.
