Congressman Robert Aderholt, Chairman of the House Values Action Team, released the following statement today after the Supreme Court ruled favorably in Mahmoud v. Taylor, confirming that parents have the right to make decisions about the education of their children concerning family life and human sexuality:

“I applaud the Supreme Court for upholding the fundamental rights of parents,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04). “Children are not wards of the state, and families, not government officials, should decide how curriculum related to human sexuality is introduced to their children. This is a clear victory for the rights of families and parents.”

In Mahmoud v. Taylor, a group of religiously diverse Maryland parents challenged a public-school district’s refusal to provide any opt-out option for their children from classroom activities that included explicit sexual material and ideological viewpoint advocacy about sexuality and gender.

“The Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor reaffirms that respecting parental rights is not only lawful, but essential to preserving both parental rights and religious freedom,” said Aderholt.

The parents who brought the suit were simply advocating for an opt out option in the classroom, which is a very common practice; they did not ask for specific books to be excluded from the curriculum.

Congressman Aderholt was proud to lead an amicus brief in this case along with Senator Bill Cassidy and 60 Members of the House of Representatives and 17 Senators emphasizing that federal law does not compel the use of this curriculum and that Congress has long supported strengthened parental rights.

“For years, parents have sounded the alarm about obscene and inappropriate content invading our schools, and today, they were heard,” said House VAT Co-Chair, Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15). “The Supreme Court has delivered a historic win for families, affirming parental rights, safeguarding religious freedom, and pushing back against the Left’s radical gender ideology targeting our children.”

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a huge victory for parental rights nationwide. Parents should always have the primary role in guiding their children’s upbringing, and in no world should a school be allowed to hide critical information about their child’s learning from them. Today’s ruling ensures that public schools can no longer impose controversial gender ideology curriculum on children without parental knowledge or consent. As a father of three school-aged daughters, I deeply care about what my children are taught outside of our home, and this decision offers parents across the country greater peace of mind and control over their children’s education,” said Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11).

Rep. Brian Babin, D.D.S (TX-36) added, “No government, no school board, and no activist agenda has the right to come between a parent and their child. Today, the Supreme Court affirmed what our Constitution and our Creator make clear: children belong to families, not the state. Forcing children into radical gender ideology without parental knowledge or consent is not education, it’s indoctrination.”

“Today’s decision affirms the fundamental truth that parents, not the government, have the right to determine the best educational curriculum for their children,” said Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-11). “Moms and Dads should not be intimidated or silenced when advocating for their children and religious convictions, and I applaud the court protecting parents’ rights and religious freedoms. I have and will continue to stand with students and parents.”

Rep. Rick W. Allen (GA-12) added, “This decision from SCOTUS is a major win for parental rights and religious freedom in our country. No elementary-aged child should be subject to woke gender ideology curriculum without parental input or consent, especially in a taxpayer-funded school system. Parents know their children best and should be the primary decision makers when it comes to their child’s education.”

“Today parents all over the U.S. received a Supreme Court huge victory,” said Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03). “This ruling ensures parents will be notified of any gender and sexuality-related instruction and given the opportunity to opt-out. When Montgomery County, Maryland made the choice to instruct preschoolers on ‘LGBTQ+ inclusivity’ without notifying parents and guardians, they decided to supersede the will of these parents and guardians. To have these kinds of choices stripped from the parents is an absurd overreach by the state, and I was glad to see our Supreme Court agreed with me.”

“It should be common sense that parents have a right to protect their children from being indoctrinated by curriculum that violates their religious convictions,” said Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06). “Parents know what is best for their children. I’m glad that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the parents trying to protect their children from being indoctrinated by controversial gender ideology curriculum.”

“I am pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision to let parents make important decisions about what their children are exposed to in public schools, especially when it involves an ideology that violates their family’s religious beliefs. Public school instruction should stick to reading, writing, and arithmetic. Parents know best how to raise their children,” said Rep. Mark Messmer (IN-08).