A new ruling in a court in Maryland sees parents stripped of their right to remove their children from classes related to LGBTQ+ education, sparking outrage from some parents who claim that their “religious beliefs” should be respected.
LGBTQ+ Books for Kids
A federal court ruling has shaken the education landscape, stating that parents can’t exempt their kids from reading LGBTQ+ content in Montgomery County Schools.
Tensions escalated as parents challenged Montgomery County Schools’ policy to include LGBTQ+ content in their curriculum.
The introduction of LGBTQ+ character-focused books by Montgomery County Public Schools last year set off a storm of debate.
Diversity Initiative
The diversity initiative introduced over 22 new books with LGBTQ+ characters into classrooms, sparking both support and opposition.
Parents argued that LGBTQ+ content violates their religious beliefs, leading to a contentious legal battle that reached the federal court.
Judge Deborah L. Boardman, appointed by President Biden, delivered her verdict on whether parents can opt their children out of LGBTQ+ content.
Not Allowed to Opt Out
The court ruled that parents’ due process right to opt out of LGBTQ+ curriculum conflicts with religious freedom and isn’t a fundamental right.
The judge denied the parents’ request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed them to opt their kids out of LGBTQ+ content.
The parent’s request for an injunction pending appeal is denied as the court deemed they aren’t likely to succeed on the appeal’s merits.
Stripping Away Parental Rights
At first, the school district allowed parents to opt their kids out of LGBTQ+ content, but the policy underwent a significant change.
In March, MCPS altered its policy, stripping parents of the right to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ curriculum, leading to a lawsuit.
Parents sued the school district, arguing that the policy infringed on their “First Amendment rights to guide their children’s religious education.”
An Assault on Children’s Rights
Judge Boardman counters the parents’ claims, asserting that the no-opt-out policy doesn’t infringe on religious freedom.
The ruling sparked heated reactions as Eric Baxter of Becket law firm declared the ruling an assault on parental “freedom, innocence, and decency.”
Baxter emphasized that the court’s decision infringed on children’s rights, “The court’s decision is an assault on children’s right to be guided by their parents on complex and sensitive issues regarding human sexuality.”
“Let Kids Be Kids”
Baxter insisted that parents should decide how to educate their children, “The School Board should let kids be kids and let parents decide how and when to best educate their own children consistent with their religious beliefs.”
LGBTQ+ books in the curriculum reference gay pride parades, gender transition, and pronoun preference across multiple grade levels.
The post An Assault on “Freedom, Innocence, and Decency.” – Parents’ Right to Opt-Out of LGBTQ+ Lessons Denied – Illegal to “Let Kids Be Kids?” first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
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