Dear John, This morning, the US Supreme Court released its opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case to determine whether the inclusion of LGBTQ+ storybooks in a public school curriculum without a notice-and-opt-out provision is in violation of parents’ First Amendment religious freedom protections. In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled that not allowing parents to opt their children out of reading storybooks that are part of an LGBTQ+ inclusive literacy curriculum in the Montgomery County Public School system burdened their religious freedom. SCOTUS found that not notifying and allowing parents to opt their children out of this curriculum could not be justified, even by the school’s clear interest in protecting LGBTQ+ students from stigma and isolation. The court has granted the parents an injunction allowing them to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum while their lawsuit against the school district continues Despite the outcome, we were proud to lend our voices to an amicus brief in the case, along with the Leadership Conference Education Fund, National Women’s Law Center, and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. We just issued a joint press release that you can read on our website. Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a heartbreaking one for LGBTQ+ students, parents, employees, and allies in Montgomery County Public Schools. However, this ruling does not erase what PFLAG parents, students, and educators have long known, and a vast body of research supports: All students benefit from a school climate that promotes inclusion, acceptance, and respect. Learning about different people, histories and experiences in school benefits students. It strengthens empathy and a sense of belonging, increases test scores and graduation rates, and betters mental and physical health, brain development and connections to school and community. The LGBTQ+ people, parents, families and allies of PFLAG will continue to make schools and curricula inclusive, accessible and welcoming because every student deserves the freedom to learn and to thrive. In continued solidarity, |
|
