{"id":2396400,"date":"2025-01-29T07:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T12:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scotus-to-hear-case-on-shielding-kids-from-lgbt-ideology\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T07:40:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T12:40:06","slug":"scotus-to-hear-case-on-shielding-kids-from-lgbt-ideology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scotus-to-hear-case-on-shielding-kids-from-lgbt-ideology\/","title":{"rendered":"SCOTUS To Hear Case On Shielding Kids From LGBT Ideology"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fscotus-to-hear-case-on-shielding-kids-from-lgbt-ideology%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2396400&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>On January 17, 2024, the\u2063 U.S. Supreme Court agreed\u200c to hear the case *Mahmoud\u2064 v. Taylor*, which involves three families challenging the Montgomery\u200c County \u2062Board of Education in Maryland over\u200b the implementation of LGBTQ+-affirming\u2064 storybooks in \u2064the\u2063 school curriculum for young children. This legal battle began in 2022 when the Montgomery county Public Schools (MCPS) introduced these\u2062 books, promising \u2062parents a\u2063 chance to review \u200cthem \u2064and options to opt-out\u200c of classes.\u2064 However, \u200cthe \u2064policy was \u2064later \u200breversed without prior notice, prompting \u200dthe families to \u200bfile a lawsuit for a temporary injunction.<\/p>\n<p>Lower courts denied\u200c thier request, arguing insufficient evidence of \u200dcoercion \u2063from the book content.\u200c The families argue that \u200cparents should be able to direct their children&#8217;s education\u200b based on their religious \u2063beliefs,asserting the Supreme Court must recognize parental\u2064 rights before\u2062 harm is done to \u2062children.<\/p>\n<p>Critics \u200bclaim the Supreme Court&#8217;s involvement reflects \u200ca broader conflict over cultural values and education. the plaintiffs wish \u2063to maintain \u2064the right to determine how their\u200d children engage \u2062with concepts of gender and sexuality, without banning the books outright. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, representing the\u200b parents, emphasizes the importance of parental\u2064 involvement in sensitive educational topics. the case raises meaningful questions \u2062about \u200cthe balance between educational policies, \u2063parental rights,\u200c and religious\u200b beliefs\u200d in \u200dthe \u200bcontext of early childhood education.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>On Jan.&nbsp;17, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear <em>Mahmoud v. Taylor,<\/em> the case of three families against the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland: a Muslim family, a Roman Catholic family, and a mixed Roman Catholic&ndash;Ukrainian Orthodox family. This isn&rsquo;t the start of a bad joke, but parents fighting to teach their children according to their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-push-bill-aimed-at-balancing-lgbt-rights-and-religious-freedom\/\" title=\"House Republicans Push Bill Aimed at Balancing LGBT Rights and Religious Freedom\">sincerely held religious beliefs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It all started in 2022 when Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) &mdash; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-school-officials-call-threat-to-sue-district-to-reopen-campuses-a-political-stunt\/\" title=\"Los Angeles School Officials Call Threat To Sue District To Reopen Campuses A \u2018Political Stunt\u2019\">largest public school district<\/a> in the state &mdash; <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/11\/15\/maryland-school-district-unveils-lgbtq-library-for-pre-k-5th-grade\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">approved<\/a> a slate of queer-affirming storybooks for use in grades as low as kindergarten. The district promised parents the opportunity to review the books and the ability to opt their children out of those classes. Later in the school year, without explanation, MCPS <a href=\"https:\/\/becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com\/20240912180459\/Mahmoud-v.-Taylor-Cert-Petition.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reversed<\/a> its policy, in spite of parental <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/education\/2023\/06\/27\/muslim-orthodox-lgbtq-books-mcps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">objections<\/a>. The families filed suit, seeking a temporary injunction against the policy.<\/p>\n<p>District and appellate courts denied the request. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-strikes-down-racial-gender-preferences-in-bidens-1-9-trillion-covid-relief-bill-that-discriminated-against-restaurant-owners\/\" title=\"Court Strikes Down Racial, Gender Preferences In Biden\u2019s .9 Trillion Covid Relief Bill That Discriminated Against Restaurant Owners\">appellate court ruled<\/a> that, due to the scant evidence regarding how the picture books were being used, parents could not prove their children had been or were going to be coerced by the books. In the Supreme Court filing, however, the plaintiffs <a href=\"https:\/\/becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com\/20240912180459\/Mahmoud-v.-Taylor-Cert-Petition.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">argued<\/a> that &ldquo;under the Fourth Circuit&rsquo;s reasoning, parents cannot be heard until after the damage has been done to their children. But there is no unringing that bell &mdash; by then, innocence will be lost and beliefs undermined.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Indoctrination by Board Book<\/h2>\n<p>Critics claim that by taking up the case, the SCOTUS has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/2025\/01\/justices-take-up-maryland-parents-challenge-to-lgbtq-books-in-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">once again<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/world-nation\/story\/2025-01-17\/supreme-court-parents-lgbtq-textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">inserted<\/a> itself into the &ldquo;culture wars.&rdquo; But the books in question affirm and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Uncle-Bobbys-Wedding-Sarah-Brannen\/dp\/1499810083\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">validate<\/a> LGBT culture, and the guidelines for teachers clearly lean in one direction.<\/p>\n<p><em>Pride Puppy!<\/em> is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/01\/17\/supreme-court-lgbtq-books\/77399481007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">billed<\/a> by corporate media as &ldquo;An alphabet primer about children chasing their dog through a pride parade.&rdquo; And yet, this <a href=\"https:\/\/becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com\/20230720201313\/2023-07-06-36-0-First-Amended-Complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">book<\/a> &ldquo;encourages children to search for images of, among other things, the &lsquo;intersex [flag],&rsquo; a &lsquo;[drag] king,&rsquo; &lsquo;leather,&rsquo; a &lsquo;lip ring,&rsquo; a &lsquo;[drag] queen,&rsquo; &lsquo;underwear,&rsquo; and a celebrated sex worker.&rdquo; MCPS pulled <em>Pride Puppy!<\/em> from the list last December, but most of the other books remained.<\/p>\n<p>In <em>Jacob&rsquo;s Room to Choose<\/em>, Jacob and Sophie attempt to use the school bathrooms. But in a study in confusion, the child named Jacob &mdash; who wears a green dress &mdash; gets kicked out of the boy&rsquo;s bathroom, while Sophie &mdash; dressed in shorts and a checkered shirt &mdash; gets chased out of the girl&rsquo;s bathroom. I&rsquo;m still not entirely sure which child is Jacob and which is Sophie. The scandalized teacher returns to the classroom and teaches her students that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">feelings ultimately determine gender<\/a>, and thus they should be free to use whatever bathroom they choose. As the new sign near the bathroom door says: &ldquo;Use the bathroom that is comfy 4 u.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In <em>What are Your Words<\/em>, a young, genderless child can&rsquo;t decide what pronouns to use. &ldquo;My pronouns are like the weather. They change depending on how I feel,&rdquo; he (she?) declares.<\/p>\n<p>MCPS also <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/11\/15\/maryland-school-district-unveils-lgbtq-library-for-pre-k-5th-grade\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">directed<\/a> teachers on how to use the books. If a child were to ask, &ldquo;He can&rsquo;t be a boy if he was born a girl,&rdquo; the teacher should say that &ldquo;when we are born, people make a guess about our gender and label us &lsquo;boy&rsquo; or &lsquo;girl&rsquo; based on our body parts. Sometimes they&rsquo;re right, and sometimes they&rsquo;re wrong.&rdquo; (The guidance has since been updated.)<\/p>\n<p>The same guidance says that any child pointing out biblical teaching regarding marriage should have his &ldquo;either\/or&rdquo; thinking &ldquo;disrupted&rdquo; while the teacher points to a female best friend who &ldquo;is married to another woman.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s hard to see how this is not coercion of a kindergartener of the most egregious kind: pitting children against their parents.<\/p>\n<h2>The Right to Opt-out &mdash; or In<\/h2>\n<p>The plaintiffs do not want to ban the books from the school system, but they do want to direct their children&rsquo;s education. This is not a new or radical idea. A number of states across the nation are contemplating or <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/01\/15\/new-ohio-law-stops-teachers-from-talking-to-kids-about-sex-behind-parents-backs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">passing<\/a> a parents&rsquo; bill of rights.<\/p>\n<p>Opt-in and opt-out policies are standard across the U.S.: 38 states allow parents to opt children out of sex education. Four states require an opt-in notice from parents, while another six require a combination of both. That&rsquo;s a whopping <a href=\"https:\/\/becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com\/20240913134507\/MoCo-Map-Graphic_.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">47 states<\/a> that put parents in the driver&rsquo;s seat. The remaining three states are silent on the issue.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, Americans favor keeping parents in charge. The <a href=\"https:\/\/becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com\/20250115160612\/Religious-Freedom-Index-2024-Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2024 Religious Freedom Index<\/a> from the Becket Fund &mdash; which represents the plaintiffs &mdash; reported that &ldquo;77% [of respondents agreed] that parents should be able to opt-out their children from curriculum on gender and sexuality &hellip; if it violates their religious beliefs.&rdquo; And, &ldquo;only 3% [of respondents] believe that such instruction is appropriate for pre-K or kindergarten-aged children.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maryland does have an opt-out policy for sex ed classes. But the education board placed these books into the English language arts curriculum. Evidently, for MCPS and the lower courts, the right of parents to direct the religious instruction of their children extends only to the &ldquo;family life and human sexuality unit of instruction,&rdquo; and nowhere else.<\/p>\n<p>While corporate media reports on the lawsuit as simply another &ldquo;culture war,&rdquo; for parents it strikes at the heart of parental rights to educate their children in the basic tenets of their faith. The plaintiffs made this argument in the original filing.<\/p>\n<p>Tamer Mahmoud and Enas Barakat, a Muslim family, <a href=\"https:\/\/becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com\/20230720201313\/2023-07-06-36-0-First-Amended-Complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">contended<\/a> that &ldquo;&lsquo;gender&rsquo; cannot be unwoven from biological &lsquo;sex&rsquo; &mdash; to the extent that the two are even distinct&mdash;without rejecting the dignity and direction God bestowed on humanity from the start.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As Christians, the Roman (Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox) and Persak (Roman Catholic) families <a href=\"https:\/\/becketnewsite.s3.amazonaws.com\/20230720201313\/2023-07-06-36-0-First-Amended-Complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">confessed<\/a> that &ldquo;what God has created by His design cannot be redefined or recreated by man&rdquo; and that the correct expression of sexuality exists within marriage.<\/p>\n<p>The Becket Fund For Religious Liberty believes parents should be in charge. &ldquo;Cramming down controversial gender ideology on three-year-olds without their parents&rsquo; permission is an affront to our nation&rsquo;s traditions, parental rights, and basic human decency,&rdquo; said Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. &ldquo;The Court must make clear: parents, not the state, should be the ones deciding how and when to introduce their children to sensitive issues about gender and sexuality.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Roy S. Askins is executive editor of The Lutheran Witness and director of editorial for The Lutheran Church&mdash;Missouri Synod Communications department. Visit witness.lcms.org to learn more.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Jan. 17, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear Mahmoud v. Taylor, involving three families against Maryland&#8217;s Montgomery County Board of Education<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3614,"featured_media":2396401,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leil8JIQ.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[37718,32285,5520,6994],"class_list":["post-2396400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-childrens-rights","tag-legal-case","tag-lgbt","tag-scotus"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Leil8JIQ.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3614"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2396400"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2396404,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396400\/revisions\/2396404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2396401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2396400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2396400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2396400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}