The Supreme Court has decided to consider an appeal brought by parents from a suburban area of Washington who aim to withdraw their children from elementary school classes that incorporate books featuring LGBTQ themes.

This appeal is centered on a previous decision from an appellate court that was not in favor of the parents from Montgomery County, Maryland. The parents argue that the school’s policy infringes upon their constitutional religious freedoms by denying them the option to opt out of lessons that include these storybooks.

The storybooks in question touch on various topics, such as a family’s participation in a pride parade, a young girl’s encounter with her uncle’s fiancé, a prince’s affection for a knight during a battle with a dragon, a girl’s nervousness about giving a valentine to another girl, and a transgender boy expressing his gender identity to his family.

According to the parents, it is inappropriate for public schools to require children to engage in lessons that contradict their religious beliefs. They highlight existing opt-out options for sex education as an example and note that the school district previously allowed parents to remove their children from these teachings but later rescinded that permission.

The controversy has led to protests in 2023, and many parents voiced their concerns at school board meetings, emphasizing their religious duty to shield their young, impressionable children from educational content regarding gender and sexuality that conflicts with their values.

In October, reports indicated that two specific books, “Pride Puppy” and “My Rainbow,” had been removed from the Montgomery County school system’s English language arts curriculum.

Attorneys representing the school district have urged the Supreme Court to refrain from intervening, asserting that these books represent only a minor portion of the curriculum. They argue that the stories depict ordinary experiences where characters embark on adventures, encounter new feelings, and strive to find their voices, reflecting similar themes found in well-known tales like Snow White, Cinderella, and Peter Pan.

It remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court will conduct oral arguments on this case in the upcoming spring session or if it will wait until the start of its new term in October.