US Supreme Court to decide if Maryland parents can exempt their children from reading LGBTQ+ books

The United States Supreme Court agreed on Friday to hear a case where Maryland parents are asking for their children to be exempt from reading elementary school books involving LGBTQ+ topics such as gender transitions. The respondent, the Montgomery County Board of Education, had approved a bill requiring schools to read their students stories with such subject matter.

Primary petitioners Tamer Mahmoud and Enas Barakat are practitioners of Islam and are joined by Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox parents who object to the content of these LGBTQ+ books. Though the petitioners are not asking to change the curriculum, they argue that compelling children to read these books contrary to their parents’ convictions violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled against the petitioners, holding that denying opt-outs did not “compel” the petitioners to change their beliefs or conduct and that they remain free to discuss these topics with their children and advise them as they wish regarding how to interpret these materials.

The US Supreme Court has taken a conservative turn in recent years, putting LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights in doubt. The court has recently agreed to hear arguments regarding defunding reproductive care provider Planned Parenthood and heard arguments on the legality of providing transgender youth gender-affirming care.