Decision Positions Government as Protector of Specific Beliefs
Delray Beach, FL — Truth Wins Out condemned today’s 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, calling it an ill-conceived decision that could have far-reaching, unintended consequences. The ruling allows religious parents to opt their children out of reading LGBTQ-inclusive literature in public schools, citing religious objections.
Unfortunately, it gives too much deference to religious parents and sets a precedent that invites further ideological fragmentation of the public school system. If parents can now exempt their children from materials that conflict with their religious beliefs, where does it end?
“This ill-advised Supreme Court ruling will have unintended consequences,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “It opens the door for every religious sect, fringe belief, or extremist ideology to cherry-pick their own reality.”
A Precedent with Far-Reaching Consequences
If parents can now exempt their children from materials that conflict with their religious beliefs, where does it end?
- Can evangelical parents now opt their children out of reading books that feature Jewish characters, because they reject Jesus as the Messiah?
- Can they object to strong, independent female protagonists who choose not to marry or have children?
- Can they opt out of books that feature Muslims or atheists, simply because such perspectives violate their religious worldview?
- Could white supremacist-leaning Christians demand to opt out of lessons on Black history, including teachings about Martin Luther King, Jr., citing Christian nationalist dogma?
The Impact on LGBTQ People
“The ruling sends a message to LGBTQ students that their lives are so controversial, so offensive, so inherently objectionable, that others must be protected from even reading about them,” said Besen.
Despite the offensive nature of the ruling, the impact on LGBTQ people is mixed. The books in question are available online or in certain bookstores, so the information is still widely available. The fact these religious parents can opt-out, takes away their ability to falsely claim victimhood and cosplay Chrisitan martyrs. So, politically the ruling helps the LGBTQ community fend off attacks from religious extremists.
“Sadly, these parents are mostly causing psychological damage to their own gay and transgender children, who will receive ugly messages of intolerance and rejection from their parents. Instead of love, these students will be browbeaten with guilt and shame.”
For more information or to schedule an interview with Wayne Besen, please contact:
Wayne Besen, Executive Director, wbesen@truthwinsout.org
Truth Wins Out is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that works to advance liberty and democracy, protect the rights of LGBTQ people and other minorities, combat religious extremism, and fight against the spread of disinformation.
This is an example of something that many of us fought in the Seventies (PFAW had a lawsuit they eventually won in TN) that went nowhere legislatively but “Parental Rights”, that ephemeral fiction in this particular case, suddenly has become a constitutional right. When rightwingers want to “opt out” their next step is always “don’t let anybody’s else’s children see or read it either. When Amy Bryant doesn’t have to recuse herself, religious charter schools will no doubt be approved as well.