US Supreme Court delivers major blow by siding with parents in LGBTQ+ school curriculum, hands Trump a 'huge win'

The US Supreme Court Friday ruled that Maryland parents can pull their children from lessons that cover LGBTQ-themed topics. The top court ruled 6-3 to let parents opt their children out of LGBTQ-themed lessons at public schools, in a landmark decision that will be seen as striking a blow for religious rights in education.

The justices voted in support of the group of parents who said a curriculum adopted in 2022 by the Montgomery County Public Schools for elementary age children violated their religious rights. The court's majority said the parents who brought the case are entitled to a preliminary injunction while it proceeds.

The introduction of the books "along with its decision to withhold opt-outs, places an unconstitutional burden on the parents' rights to the free exercise of their religion", Justice Samuel Alito wrote.


"For many people of faith, there are few religious acts more important than the religious education of their children," wrote Justice Samuel Alito in the majority opinion.

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He added that the books in question "are designed to present certain values and beliefs as things to be celebrated, and certain contrary values and beliefs as things to be rejected," citing the normalization and celebration of same-sex marriage as one such example.

In the dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor -- joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson -- argued that public schools "offer to children of all faiths and backgrounds an education and an opportunity to practice living in our multicultural society."

"That experience is critical to our Nation's civic vitality. Yet it will become a mere memory if children must be insulated from exposure to ideas and concepts that may conflict with their parents' religious beliefs," she warned.

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Trump administration calls it 'big win'

President Donald Trump hailed the outcome as a "great ruling for parents." "They lost control of the schools and they lost control of their child, and this is a tremendous victory for parents," he said at a White House press conference.

“I think it’s a great ruling for parents. It’s really a ruling for parents. They lost control of the schools, they lost control of their child, and this is a tremendous victory for parents. And I’m not surprised by it, but I am surprised that it went this far,” Trump said in remarks in the White House briefing room Friday.

"The Court rightfully held that schools can’t shut parents out or disregard their religious obligations to their children. A great day for parents and education champions!" education secretary Linda McMahon said.

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Trump has taken aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the federal government, with particular focus on transgender issues.

His Justice Department backed the parents in the case, calling the school district's policy "textbook interference with the free exercise of religion."

Supreme Court on birthright citizenship

The Supreme Court also handed another significant victory to Donald Trump - and future American presidents - when curbing lower courts' power to block executive orders. The court's decision not only impacts Trump's birthright citizenship order, but also emboldens him to enact many of his other policy actions that have been temporarily thwarted by similar injunctions.

Trump was beaming as he addressed reporters at the White House briefing room podium, calling it a "big, amazing decision" which the administration is "very happy about".

He said it was a "monumental victory for the constitution, the separation of powers and the rule of law".

(With agency inputs)