Religious Beliefs vs LGBT books: How conservative parents won bigly

The US Supreme Court has ruled that parents can generally stop their children from attending school lessons that go against their religious beliefs, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.This case came from Maryland, where some parents objected to LGBTQ-themed books being taught in elementary schools. The court sided with the parents, saying they have the right to decide what their children learn if it clashes with their religion.Conservative groups see this as a big win. Eric Baxter, lawyer for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said public schools should serve parents, not force children “into conformity.”However, progressive parents and many teachers worry this will hurt schools’ ability to teach tolerance. Erica Watkins, who runs a progressive parent group in Oklahoma, said “‘parents’ rights’ has been overused and weaponized to undermine teachers.”

How did this movement grow?

The push for parental rights took off in 2021 when Terry McAuliffe, a Democratic candidate for Virginia governor, said in a debate, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”

His Republican rival, Glenn Youngkin, used this to win the election, sparking a nationwide conservative movement demanding more control over schools.Groups like Moms for Liberty, formed in Florida in 2021, grew quickly. They trained school board candidates and wore shirts reading “We do not co-parent with the government.” Co-founder Tiffany Justice told WSJ that parents are becoming “more emboldened.”

What happens next?

Former President Donald Trump backed Moms for Liberty during his 2024 campaign, saying, “I’m for parental rights all the way.”

He also praised Friday’s court ruling.Conservative lawyers believe the ruling will help parents fight other school policies, such as rules about students’ pronouns and names. Luke Berg from Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty said it’s hard to see how parents will lose such cases if they cite religious reasons.But school officials are worried about how to handle students who opt out. Zachary Schurin, a lawyer for Connecticut schools, said teachers will have to find staff to supervise these students during lessons they skip.

Could progressives use this too?

Some progressive parents are using parental rights laws to opt out of lessons they disagree with. In Oklahoma, Erica Watkins encouraged parents to pull their children out of new social studies classes that question the 2020 election results.In another case, parents argued that bans on gender-transition care for minors violate their rights to raise their children as they see fit. The Supreme Court rejected one such case in Tennessee but did not rule directly on parental rights.

“As a parent, I know my child better than any government official ever will,” said Samantha Williams, a mother involved in the Tennessee lawsuit.