SCOTUS Rules in Favor of Parents Opting Children Out of LGBTQ-Themed Books

The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 in favor of parents seeking to opt their children out of public school instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs. The case involved parents from Montgomery County, Maryland, who wanted an exemption from reading LGBTQ-themed storybooks in classrooms. The court found that denying parents the right to opt-out violated their First Amendment rights. The decision allows parents to opt their children out of sensitive subjects in school.

In 2022, the Montgomery County school board introduced LGBTQ-themed books into the curriculum but later discontinued the opt-out program. Parents argued that the books amounted to government-led indoctrination on sexuality, while the school board maintained that the books exposed children to diverse ideas. The Supreme Court's conservative majority supported the right of parents to opt out for sensitive subjects.

Eric Baxter, representing the parents, hailed the ruling as a victory for parental rights. However, an attorney for the book authors criticized the decision, calling it a blow to the right to read and a betrayal of public schools' duty to prepare students for a diverse society. President Donald Trump praised the ruling as a victory for parents' rights, while Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the importance of parents deciding their child's education.