A Victoria-based publishing company is "disappointed" with a June 27 U.S. Supreme Court decision involving religious objections to an LGBTQ-themed book with local ties.
The court ruled that Maryland public schools must permit parents to opt their children out of classes that include storybooks with LGBTQ themes, if they have religious objections.
Adopted in 2022, the Montgomery County Public Schools curriculum for prekindergarten through Grade 5 includes five books selected to reflect the diversity of the district’s student body.
One of the books originally incorporated was Pride Puppy, the story of a family's dog that gets lost at a pride parade. Victoria-based author Robin Stevenson wrote the children's book, produced by Orca Book Publishers.
However, after more than a year of using the book in classroom instruction, the board removed it due to content concerns during the litigation.
"At Orca Book Publishers, we are disappointed by today’s decision from the U.S Supreme Court, which we believe creates barriers to inclusive education for all students," the independently-owned company said in a press release. "Books like Pride Puppy! are written to reflect the diversity of families and communities in the real world, and to help all children feel seen and respected."
Three sets of parents asked Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to notify them in advance, excuse their children from class and provide alternate lessons whenever the LGBTQ storybooks on the curriculum were read.
While MCPS initially allowed opt-outs, the board cited among other things, that it “could not accommodate the growing number of opt out requests without causing significant disruptions to the classroom environment.”
After the school district reversed its policy, parents of several faiths sued in March 2023, saying the books violated the First Amendment's protection of the free exercise of religion.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and other appeals courts ruled that exposure to curriculum materials conflicting with parents’ religious beliefs did not violate their right to free exercise of religion.
The case was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, which ruled 6–3 in favour of allowing parents to withdraw their children from the readings on religious grounds.
"A government burdens the religious exercise of parents when it requires them to submit their children to instruction that poses 'a very real threat of undermining' the religious beliefs and practices that the parents wish to instill," the Opinion of the Court reads.
Pride Puppy, it was noted, was intended by the board to be read to 3- and 4-year-olds and invited readers to search for items depicted in the book’s illustrations, including “underwear,” a “[drag] king,” and a “[drag] queen.”
In the court filing, the board argued that the storybooks were not used in any lessons related to gender and sexuality. Rather, it argued, the books were meant to represent students previously not reflected in the reading materials.
Orca Book Publishers expressed further disappointment and concern over the ruling's implications for inclusive education.
"While we support the right to religious freedom, we believe that exposure to a wide range of stories fosters empathy, understanding and a stronger society. We remain committed to publishing books that affirm the dignity and worth of every child and family, and to working with educators, librarians and communities who share that vision."
