Next Week: Religious parents at Supreme Court to restore opt-outs for Pride storybooks Muslims, Jews & Christians in Maryland will ask Court to protect parental rights

WASHINGTON – A diverse group of religious parents will be at the Supreme Court next week fighting to restore their right to opt their children out of storybooks that push one-sided ideology on gender identity and sexuality. In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Montgomery County Board of Education took away parental notice and opt-outs for storybooks that celebrate gender transitioning, pride parades, and pronoun preferences with kids as young as three and four. Older students can opt out when similar topics are introduced during health class. Becket represents a diverse coalition of religious parents, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, who challenged the opt-out ban in 2023 (Watch this short video to learn more).  

The new “inclusivity” books were announced in 2022 for students in pre-K through fifth grade. Instead of focusing on basic principles of respect and kindness, however, the books champion controversial ideology around gender and sexuality. For example, one book tasks three and four-year-olds to search for images from a word list that includes “intersex flag,” “drag queen,” “underwear,” “leather,” and the name of a celebrated LGBTQ activist and sex worker. Another book advocates a child-knows-best approach to gender transitioning, telling students that a decision to transition doesn’t have to “make sense.” Teachers are instructed to say doctors only “guess” when identifying a newborn’s sex anyway. The School Board revoked notice and opt-outs for these storybooks, which violates Maryland law, the Board’s policies, and the advice of its own elementary school principals. 

Soon after the School Board announced it would take away parental notice and opt-outs for the storybooks, a diverse coalition of religious parents sued the School Board in federal court. Last year, the parents asked the Supreme Court to restore their right to notice and opt-outs so they can help guide their children’s education in accordance with their beliefs—a result that, according to a recent poll, most Americans support.  

What:   
Oral Argument in Mahmoud v. Taylor 

   
Arguing before the Court:   
Eric Baxter, vice president & senior counsel at Becket 

When:   
Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET   

   
Where:   
The Supreme Court of the United States 
1 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543
Listen to the livestream audio: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx 

Before oral argument, there will be a rally beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET outside the Supreme Court hosted by Becket and Kids First, an association of parents and teachers interested in preserving the parental right to notice and opt-out in Montgomery County Public Schools and one of the parties to the lawsuit.    

Becket attorneys will be available for comment outside the Court following the argument.  

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, contact Ryan Colby at [email protected] or 202-349-7219.