Supreme Court Hears LGBTQ+ Books Case, Weighs Religious Rights

The Supreme Court heard arguments in a case involving religious parents from Maryland who seek the right to remove their children from school lessons featuring books with LGBTQ+ characters, arguing that their First Amendment religious rights are being violated. The Montgomery County Board of Education had initially allowed an opt-out policy but later reversed it, citing unmanageability. During oral arguments, conservative justices questioned why the school district could not accommodate the opt-out requests, with Justice Alito and Justice Kavanaugh pressing school lawyers on the issue of religious liberty. Justice Sotomayor countered that mere exposure to differing viewpoints does not amount to coercion. The case highlights tensions between religious freedom and inclusive curricula in public education, as justices appeared divided on the appropriate balance between the two.