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In a significant ruling, the US Supreme Court has supported a group of parents in Maryland seeking to exempt their children from reading books with LGBTQ themes in elementary schools. The 6-3 decision, handed down on 28 June 2025, grants a preliminary injunction to the parents, who argued that a 2022 curriculum introduced by Montgomery County Public Schools infringed upon their religious freedoms.
The court’s conservative majority, led by Justice Samuel Alito, stated that the inclusion of these books, combined with the removal of an opt-out option, placed an “unconstitutional burden” on the parents’ First Amendment right to freely exercise their religion. The parents, representing various faiths, do not object to the books being available in school libraries but oppose their mandatory use in lessons.
Titles at the centre of the dispute include Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, about a girl learning of her uncle’s same-sex wedding, and Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope, which follows a transgender boy. Montgomery County, Maryland’s largest school district, introduced these books to promote diversity but eliminated the opt-out option in 2023, citing classroom disruption and potential stigma for LGBTQ students.
The court’s three liberal justices dissented, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor warning that the ruling could lead to “chaos” in public schools, given the diversity of religious beliefs in the US. She argued that countless school activities might conflict with parental beliefs, complicating educational practices.
The decision allows the parents to pursue their case further, with the court finding that they are likely to succeed, face irreparable harm without relief, and that the injunction serves the public interest. The ruling has sparked debate over balancing religious freedoms with inclusive education policies.
