Religious parents to Supreme Court: restore opt-outs for instruction on gender and sexuality Muslims, Jews & Christians in Maryland ask Justices to protect parental rights

WASHINGTON – A diverse group of religious parents in Maryland asked the Supreme Court yesterday to restore their right to opt their children out of storybooks that push one-sided ideology on gender 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 high school health class. Becket represents Muslim, Christian, and Jewish parents who challenged the ban on elementary school opt-outs in federal court last year (Watch this short video to learn more). After the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to restore their rights, these parents are asking the Supreme Court to do so. 

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 last year, which violates Maryland law, the Board’s policies, and the advice of its own elementary school principals. 

“The School Board is pushing a controversial ideology that has been rejected by governments around the world and has even been criticized by the Board’s own principals as inappropriate for the intended age group,” said Grace Morrison, board member of Kids First, an association of parents and teachers advocating for notice and opt-outs in Montgomery County Schools. “Children deserve a period of innocence. The Supreme Court should take this case, restore the opt-out, and let parents decide how and when to introduce their own elementary school kids to these sensitive topics.”  

Soon after the School Board announced it would take away parental notice and opt-outs for the storybooks, a diverse coalition of religious parents, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, sued the School Board in federal court. Despite faith differences, these parents believe the new storybooks are age-inappropriate, spiritually and emotionally damaging for their kids, and inconsistent with their beliefs. After a lower court upheld the opt-out ban, the parents sought relief from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals but were denied again, with one judge dissenting. These parents yesterday 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. 

“Parents shouldn’t have to take a back seat to anyone when it comes to introducing their children to complex and sensitive issues around gender and sexuality,” said Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. “Nearly every state requires parental consent before high schoolers can attend sex-ed. Parents should have the right to excuse their elementary school children when related instruction is introduced during story hour.” 

The Court will consider whether to hear the case later this fall.  

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