In a storybook tale, a prince captures a dragon to save a knight, but then the prince falls, prompting the knight to dash to his rescue. The story culminates in the two men falling in love. This narrative, titled “Prince and Knight,” is one of several children’s books featuring LGBTQ characters, targeting readers from kindergarten through fifth grade. These books have stirred controversy in a diverse suburban district in Montgomery County, Maryland, leading to a Supreme Court case that will be debated on Tuesday.
Parents objecting on religious grounds are seeking permission to withdraw their children from classes where these books are used. Montgomery County’s school system has denied such requests, with lower courts supporting this decision so far. However, this could change in a Supreme Court influenced by conservative justices, who have often ruled in favor of religious discrimination claims recently.
The parents contend that public schools cannot mandate participation in lessons conflicting with their faith. They highlight opt-out options in sex education and argue that the school initially allowed parental withdrawal before reversing the decision. “It’s described as a language arts program, but the material is very sexual,” stated Billy Moges, a Kids First board member, expressing concerns about the early exposure to topics of human sexuality. Many parents have testified against these lessons, arguing that they clash with their religious beliefs.
Moges revealed she has withdrawn her three daughters, aged 10, 8, and 6, from public schools due to the issue. Originally homeschooled, they now attend a private Christian institution. The school system, refraining from comments during the pending lawsuit, argues in court documents that these storybooks aren’t sexual education materials. According to their lawyers, these books portray everyday stories of characters encountering new emotions and adventures, comparable to timeless tales such as Snow White or Cinderella.
“Uncle Bobby’s Wedding” tells of a girl worried about her uncle’s availability post-marriage to another man, while “Love, Violet” depicts a girl’s nervousness about giving a valentine to another girl. “Born Ready” covers a transgender boy sharing his gender identity, and “Intersection Allies” features characters of diverse backgrounds, including a gender-fluid individual. These books aim at better representing the varied family dynamics in Montgomery County without pressuring students to abandon religious views, as per school lawyers.
The lawsuit proceedings have revealed that allowing parents to pull children from lessons was abandoned due to its “disruptive” impact. The organization Pen America, involved in advocating free expression, sees the parents’ demands as a thinly-veiled “book ban.” They assert that providing alternatives whenever the books are used could unfairly force their removal from the curriculum.
Tasslyn Magnusson from PEN America urges people to read these books, describing them as “lovely examples” of realistic school experiences fit for educational settings. Another book, “My Rainbow,” although initially part of the curriculum, was inexplicably pulled. Co-written by Delaware state Rep. DeShanna Neal and her daughter Trinity, it narrates Trinity’s experience as a transgender girl wanting long hair and the creative solution of her mother knitting a rainbow wig. Despite being removed from libraries in multiple states, Neal believes that schools should teach the diversity of the world and give children a voice about their bodies.