June 27, 2025, Washington, DC – The National Parents Union is sounding the alarm following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Mahmoud v. McKnight, which sides with parents seeking to opt their children out of public school content acknowledging LGBTQ families.
“This lawsuit was never about protecting children. It was about imposing one group’s beliefs on every family and stripping schools of the ability to reflect the diversity of the real world. That’s not parental rights. That’s censorship, said Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union. “As a mom and as an organizer, I will always defend a parent’s right to raise their child but not at the expense of someone else’s. Inclusion is not indoctrination. And no child should be taught that their identity – or their family – is something to be hidden.”
The case, brought by a group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, sought the right to opt children out of a curriculum that simply reflects the existence of LGBTQ people. Research consistently shows that inclusive curricula reduce bullying, improve mental health outcomes, and help young people develop empathy and critical thinking.
“Let’s be real: no child is harmed by learning that LGBTQ people exist. What’s truly harmful is a system that treats some families like they don’t belong,” continued Rodrigues. “The National Parents Union will continue to fight for inclusive education, protect the rights of all families, and ensure our public schools are places of learning, not targets for political culture wars.”
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION
With more than 1,800 affiliated parent organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, the National Parents Union is the united, independent voice of modern American families. We channel the power of parents into powerful policies that improve the lives of children, families and communities across the United States. https://nationalparentsunion.org/