Trump welcomes Supreme Court ruling allowing parents to withdraw children from LGBTQ+ education

Donald Trump has praised a Supreme Court decision that will allow religious parents to opt their children out of lessons that feature LGBTQ+-inclusive books.

Mahmoud vs Taylor concerned Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of Maryland, which in 2022 introduced a number of LGBTQ+-focused storybooks, including Pride Puppy! and Uncle Bobby’s Wedding.

The school district initially allowed parents to pull their children out lessons where the books were used but removed the option in 2023, saying the policy was disruptive. A group of parents sued on religious grounds, saying the decision infringed on their First Amendment freedoms.

Among the plaintiffs were Muslim couple Tamer Mahmoud and Enas Barakat and members of Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox churches.

In a 6-3 decision on Friday (27 June), the US Supreme Court sided with the parents.

Writing the majority opinion, conservative justice Samuel Alito said the school district’s introduction of the books “along with its decision to withhold opt-outs, places an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion”.

Commenting on the outcome of the case, president Trump described the verdict as “a great ruling for parents” and “a tremendous victory”. He claimed families had “lost control of the schools” and “lost control of their child”, adding: “We will give you back your parental rights. They were taken away.”

Writing for the three liberal justices who disagreed with the parents, justice Sonia Sotomayor said: “Casting aside long-standing precedent, the court invents a constitutional right to avoid exposure to ‘subtle’ themes ‘contrary to the religious principles’ that parents wish to instil in their children.

“Exposing students to the ‘message’ that LGBTQ people exist, and that their loved ones may celebrate their marriages and life events, the majority says, is enough to trigger the most demanding form of judicial scrutiny”.

A spokesperson for Montgomery County Public Schools said: “[The decision] marks a significant challenge for public education nationwide. We will determine [our] next steps and navigate this moment with integrity and purpose, guided, as always, by our shared values of learning, relationships, respect, excellence and equity.”

The president of the Human Rights Campaign condemned the verdict, branding it cruel.

“Every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read, and to be celebrated in their classrooms for who they truly are,” Kelley Robinson said. “This ruling not only tells LGBTQ+ students that they don’t belong, but that their experiences and existence are less worthy of respect.

“In a country where LGBTQ+ youth already face disproportionate rates of bullying, homelessness and mental-health challenges, this ruling weaponises religious freedom to further marginalise vulnerable students. It’s wrong, it’s dangerous and it’s cruel.”

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