Chicago – April 22, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court seems ready to rule in favor of Christian and Muslim parents in Maryland who want to keep their elementary school children out of certain classes where storybooks with LGBT characters are read. This case is about balancing religious rights with LGBT rights.
On Tuesday, the nine justices heard arguments from parents in Montgomery County, near Washington, D.C. These parents want their children to have the option to opt out of these lessons, but lower courts have already rejected their request.
The parents, who are Muslim, Roman Catholic, and Ukrainian Orthodox, argue that the local school district’s rule, which does not allow opt-outs, goes against the U.S. Constitution’s protection of religious freedom. The Trump administration also supported them in the case.
The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has recently been supporting religious rights, even in cases involving LGBT issues. Many of the justices seemed to agree with the parents, saying that not allowing opt-outs might interfere with their religious beliefs.
However, the court’s three liberal justices raised concerns about where the opt-out rule would end. They gave examples like topics such as evolution, interracial marriage, or women working outside the home, which might also be taught in public schools.
It’s still unclear whether the court will make a narrow decision that asks lower courts to review the case again, or if they will make a broad ruling that allows opt-outs in general.
The parents involved in the lawsuit include Tamer Mahmoud, Enas Barakat, Chris Persak, Melissa Persak, Jeff Roman, and Svitlana Roman, along with an organization called Kids First, which advocates for opt-out rights. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, had denied their request for an early ruling in 2024.
The Supreme Court is expected to make its decision by the end of June.
