Current Events > SCOTUS sides in favor of "Don't Say Gay"

(+) Yeah! (+)

Because 'parents rights trump all' and should be able to protect their precious little darlings from reality.

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/04/conservative-justices-side-with-religious-parents-in-supreme-court-dont-say-gay-case/

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case about religious parents who dont want their children to be taught about LGBTQ+ people in public schools. The conservative justices seemed to side with the religious parents, but a lawyer for the schools argued that its unrealistic to allow parents to opt-out of any lessons they personally disagree with.

The plaintiffs in the case objected to their children being read books at storytime like Love, Violet, a 2021 childrens picture book about a shy girl who has a crush on her classmate, and Uncle Bobbys Wedding, a 2025 picture book about a male same-sex wedding.

The religious parents objected to the books, saying that the books infringe on their First Amendment rights to not have their children taught about gender and sexuality in ways that conflict with their religious beliefs.

During questioning, conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh asked the lawyer representing the Maryland school district why it couldnt just allow parents to opt-out of LGBTQ+ lessons, The Washington Post reported. The districts lawyer said that such opt-outs arent workable for school officials and could lead to troublesome outcomes. School leaders had previously called such opt-outs disruptive, divisive and unworkable.

Justice Elena Kagan pointed out that if the school allows parents to opt-out of any lessons they object to, then every parent will be allowed to ask for exceptions to any instructional content with which they religiously disagree.

The conservative-led U.S. Supreme Court decided to hear the case, even though it hadnt made its way through the lower courts and still contained factual disputes. Commenters worry that the courts 6-3 conservative majority may favor so-called religious rights over public schools ability to teach inclusive instructional material.

Two lower courts in this case sided with school officials

U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman (appointed by former President Joe Biden), said the school districts policy doesnt impermissibly burden the religious rights of parents. Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit said there wasnt any evidence that the parents or kids were compelled to change their religious beliefs or actions around gender and sexuality.

Simply hearing about other views does not necessarily exert pressure to believe or act differently than ones religious faith requires, wrote Judges G. Steven Agee and DeAndrea Benjamin, who were appointed by former President George W. Bush and Biden, respectively.

Outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, supporters of both sides demonstrated. Out LGBTQ+ Montgomery County Councilman Evan Glass said in front of a crowd holding rainbow umbrellas, They want to erase us from existence. We celebrate our diversity. We recognize we can all coexist.

In contrast, Wael Elkoshairi, a parent of five kids, said, Parents rights trumps all, adding, [School officials and religious parents cant agree] when inclusion stops and where indoctrination started.

The U.S. Supreme Court has previously sided against religious parents in related cases.

In a concurring opinion on a 1948 school case, Justice Robert Jackson warned, If we are to eliminate everything that is objectionable to any of these warring sects or inconsistent with any of their doctrines, we will leave public education in shreds.

In 1987, the court followed Jacksons lead by deciding against the plaintiffs in Mozert v. Hawkins County Board of Education. The plaintiffs argued that the use of magical powers depicted in Shakespeares Macbeth offended their religious beliefs; as such, the parents claimed a right to choose what their children could or could not read and learn at school.

The U.S. Supreme Court typically releases the majority of its decisions in mid-June.

Won't be long before every state is Florida

Corrupt court and we have to hope they stay the same for at least 4 years.

The Supreme Court as currently composed is trash. And, very sadly, it probably will side with these dumb parents who cant seem to handle their children learning about how people actually live.

But I have to point out that the SC hasnt sided with anybody yet. Arguments were just today. We wont know anything for sure until the actual opinion is released.

That said: I expect the most terrible outcome. Did I mention this Court is trash? A pretty big reason why Clinton and Harris winning instead of Dump was pretty important.

Topic title is jumping the gun quite a bit, don't you think?

It doesn't sound like they've actually made a formal decision. Just that, so far, the conservative judges agree with the religious parents.

It's such a stupid case though. I wish they'd listen to the judges from the lower courts that said simply learning about different views doesn't force them to believe or act differently than their religion requires.

Topic title is trash

"How dare your educational material interfere with my brainwashing!" - dumb MAGA parents

The future is fucked

This already happened in my (blue) city in a very blue state, so i knew it would happen nationally. A large group of muslim parents sued a school district to opt out of LGBT anything for their kids and the district had to comply