U.S. Supreme Court weighs opt-outs for parents from LGBTQ2 books in school – National [Video]

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared inclined to rule in favor of Christian and Muslim parents in Maryland seeking to keep their elementary school children out of certain classes when storybooks with LGBT characters are read in the latest case involving the intersection of religion and LGBT rights.

The nine justices heard arguments on Tuesday in an appeal by parents with children in public schools in Montgomery County, located just outside of Washington, after lower courts declined to order the local school district to let children opt out when these books are read.

The parents – who include Muslim, Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox plaintiffs – contend that the school board’s policy of prohibiting opt-outs violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protections for free exercise of religion. President Donald Trump’s administration backed them in the case.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has steadily expanded the rights of religious people in recent …