The Alabama Policy Institute (API) says a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court should result in parents taking action in the Yellowhammer State.
The court ruled in June that parents have a right to opt their children out of classroom instruction involving LGBT-themed books. In a 6-3 decision the justices sided with a group of religious parents affiliated with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.
“Today, we hold that the parents have shown that they are entitled to a preliminary injunction. 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,” said Justice Sam Alito in the majority opinion.
In a press release Thursday, API called on parents to take action on behalf of their kids.
“Parents of public school children can now expect their local districts to allow opt outs concerning instruction about sex and gender,” said the release. “The ruling should act as a directive to every American school district. To that end, every school district should notify parents of controversial materials and provide them the opportunity to opt their children out – especially if there is a provision for opt-outs for other curriculum or other reasons, but exclude opt-outs for religious objections.”
API also provided a template letter for parents to use to contact their local school districts over the summer to request adherence to the recent decision.
“It is the right of religious parents to opt their children out of sex and gender-focused curriculum – regardless of when, where, and how it might introduced during the school day,” the release concluded.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee