OnPolitics: Parents clash with school district over LGBTQ books

Hi OnPolitics readers. Let's take a look at Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the most liberal counties in America, nestled north of Washington, D.C.

It’s the site of a battle between religious parents and public school officials over whether elementary school students should be allowed to opt out of reading books with LGBTQ+ characters, Paste BN’s John Fritze reports.

🏫 Back to school: Three sets of parents and an advocacy group representing other families are asking a federal court in Maryland to suspend the policy.

The parents object to a book titled "Pride Puppy," for instance, that tells the story of children who chase their dog through a pride parade. Another, "Prince and Knight," features a romance between two male characters. "Born Ready" is about a boy coming to terms with his gender identity.

Wait, what’s the issue here? In a lawsuit, parents are claiming that the schools denying the option to opt out of engaging with books infringes on their religious beliefs. Touching on an argument that has become a conservative rallying cry, they say the policy also interferes with their ability to raise their children.

The school district says it’s invested in creating inclusive classrooms, arguing that students engaging with materials doesn’t mean parents don’t get to make their own choices about raising their children.

Culture wars in the the classroom: The case represents how controversial issues have rocked schools across the country, with fights stretching from book bans to the treatment of transgender students and more.

📚 Keep reading: Parents vs. schools: Who decides curriculum?

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