Today’s Supreme Court ruling sided with Montgomery County parents who object to books with LGBTQ+ themes in children’s schools. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) must now allow parents to “opt out” of LGBTQ+ inclusive materials in the classroom, according to the court.
In a 6-3 vote, the court’s majority ruled that the school district was imposing an “unconstitutional burden” on parents’ religious rights, siding with a group of parents who sued the school district in 2023 after it revoked a previous policy that allowed parents to opt their children out of classroom instruction that included LGBTQ+ inclusive materials.
Montgomery County’s Tamer Mahmoud and Enas Barakat, the lead plaintiffs in the case, claimed that requiring their children to receive instruction that “promoted acceptance of homosexuality or transgender individuals” violated their Islamic faith.
Mahmoud and Barakat were joined by parents of other faith groups, including a Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox couple. The parents formed the organization Kids 1st, which supports the parental right to opt out of classroom instruction related to “family life and human sexuality” in MCPS, according to the organization’s website.
In a joint statement Friday, MCPS and the Montgomery County Board of Education denounced this ruling:
“This decision complicates our work creating a welcoming and inclusive school system that embraces and celebrates each and every one of our students. We will maintain an environment where all students feel valued and supported. Equity is one of our core values and is foundational to who we are as a system that serves one of the most diverse communities in the United States of America.”
The county and Board of Education will continue to analyze the Supreme Court’s decision and decide on next steps, according to the statement. Meanwhile, MCPS will continue to have “inclusive books” that reflect the diversity of MCPS students and families.
Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass, the first openly LGBTQ+ member on the council, described the decision as a “painful setback” in a statement.
“This ruling sends a chilling message, one that threatens to roll back the process we’ve fought so hard to make,” Glass wrote.
The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, has garnered national attention as a possible precedent for other school districts in the U.S.
This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
