US Judge: Parents Cannot Opt Children Out of LGBT Lessons
Parents Denied Opt-Out for LGBT Lessons in Maryland Schools
A federal judge has ruled that parents cannot opt their children out of lessons featuring LGBT content in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. The opt-out policy was revoked due to a large number of requests, leading parents to sue the school district. They argued that the lack of opt-outs forced them to compromise their religious beliefs or seek alternative schooling.
However, U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman dismissed their claims, stating that the policy does not result in the indoctrination or coercion of children to violate their religious beliefs. She emphasized that parents are still free to instruct their children in their faiths, even if their exposure to different ideas may make their efforts more challenging.
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Montgomery County Public Schools, with its 160,000 students, is one of the largest school systems in the country. The school district remains committed to creating an inclusive learning environment where all students can see themselves and their families in the curriculum materials.
Lawyers representing the plaintiffs, who follow Islam or Christianity, expressed their disagreement with the ruling. They believe it infringes on children’s right to be guided by their parents on sensitive issues of human sexuality. The plaintiffs plan to appeal the decision and expect oral arguments to be heard at the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the fall.
Judge Boardman acknowledged that the appeals court has not yet addressed whether mandatory lessons in public schools burden the religious exercise of students or parents. However, she cited previous rulings that suggest exposure to conflicting ideas in school does not constitute a burden on religious exercise.
More on the Case
In response to a lack of representation of LGBT people in the curriculum, Montgomery County officials introduced 13 new books featuring LGBT characters at the beginning of the 2022–23 school year. These books have been used in lessons for children as young as 3, raising concerns among parents, teachers, and principals.
A group of principals expressed their concerns in a memorandum to the district, stating that it is problematic to depict elementary school children falling in love with others, regardless of sexual preferences. They also highlighted the use of terminology such as cisgender and transgender in second-grade books, which they believe is inappropriate for that age group.
Despite the controversy, Montgomery County Public Schools remains committed to inclusivity and aims to provide instructional materials that reflect the diversity of the local and global community, including diverse gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations.
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