SCOTUS Allows Parents To Opt Out

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a major ruling Friday in favor of religious liberty and parental rights, declaring that public schools cannot compel children to participate in instruction involving LGBT-themed content over the objections of their parents. In a 6–3 decision, the Court sided with a group of religious families in Maryland who argued that Montgomery County Public Schools violated their constitutional rights by denying them the ability to opt their children out of such lessons.

The case centered around storybooks like Prince and Knight, which portrays a same-sex romantic relationship, and Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, about a same-sex marriage, both of which were introduced into early-grade classrooms. The plaintiffs—who include Catholic, Muslim, and Ukrainian Orthodox families—said the district’s refusal to honor their opt-out requests infringed on their First Amendment rights to exercise their religion.

Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito affirmed that the school district crossed a constitutional line. “A government burdens the religious exercise of parents when it requires them to submit their children to instruction that poses ‘a very real threat of undermining’ the religious beliefs and practices that the parents wish to instill,” Alito stated. He further criticized the district for promoting a specific ideological stance on same-sex marriage and gender identity, and for reportedly instructing teachers to correct or reprimand children who expressed disagreement.

.@POTUS: “I think the ruling was a great ruling, and I think it’s a great ruling for parents… they lost control of the schools. They lost control of their child, and this is a tremendous victory for parents.” https://t.co/Pla2qrLE36 pic.twitter.com/jqySSHA8QM

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 27, 2025

The ruling grants a preliminary injunction in favor of the families, effectively halting the enforcement of Montgomery County’s no-opt-out policy while further litigation proceeds.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, issued a dissent arguing that the decision wrongly inserts judicial authority into curriculum decisions traditionally managed by school boards and local communities. “The reverberations of the Court’s error will be felt, I fear, for generations,” Sotomayor warned.

Religious liberty advocates hailed the decision as a landmark. Eric Baxter of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented the plaintiffs, called it a “historic victory” and said it restored “common sense.” He emphasized the right of parents to decide when and how their children encounter sensitive topics like sexuality and gender identity.

Reaction from elected officials was swift. President Donald Trump called the ruling “a tremendous victory for parents” and said it marked a turning point in the battle over who controls America’s schools.

Parent organizations and faith-based groups echoed that view. Rosalind Hanson, a plaintiff and chair of the Montgomery County chapter of Moms for Liberty, said she was “thrilled” by the outcome and criticized the district for promoting a “one-sided agenda.”

Kelsey Reinhardt, CEO of CatholicVote, noted the significance of the case for religious families nationwide. “For over two years, Catholic parents alongside parents of other faiths have been forced to defend their constitutional right to opt their children out of radical LGBTQ+ course materials,” she said, adding that the case should serve as a warning to school districts about overriding family and faith-based concerns.

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