Montgomery County must pay $1.5M to religious parents after Supreme Court ruling

A federal judge ordered Maryland's largest school district to pay $1.5 million to parents who sued the school system after it took away parental notice and opt-outs for LGBT-themed storybooks, some of which promoted gender transitioning and pride parades to children as young as 4.

U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman issued the financial judgment, as well as a permanent injunction, in a Thursday ruling. The decision comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last June that Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland cannot require children to be exposed to LGBT-themed books in the curriculum without parental consent.

Under the settlement and permanent injunction issued on Thursday, the Montgomery County Board of Education must notify parents in advance when instructional materials will feature LGBT content, and parents must have the right to opt their child out if it conflicts with the family’s religious beliefs.

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