Guest Opinion: US Supreme Court ruling creates a closet for some students

My brother and I grew up in a closet. After our parents divorced in the mid-1980s, our mom wasn’t open about her relationship with her partner – now wife – Sue. At the time, she feared that coming out as a lesbian could cost her custody of “her boys.” That fear wasn’t irrational. Family court systems often operated under the presumption that LGBTQ+ parents were inherently unfit.

We knew we were a “queer family,” even if we didn’t yet have the words for it. In those early years, it sometimes felt like we were the only family like ours. There was no representation of families like mine in the media or in children’s literature. Lesléa Newman’s “Heather Has Two Mommies,” the first mainstream children’s book about queer families, wouldn’t be published until 1989 – four years later – and even that could only begin to capture the spectrum of LGBTQ+ experiences.

Since then, representation has expanded significantly. Today, stories featuring LGBTQ+ families and characters occupy entire sections of libraries and bookstores. These books are invaluable not only for LGBTQ+ children and those with LGBTQ+ parents, but also for their peers. They foster empathy, expand worldviews, and affirm that diverse identities are part of the human experience.

Inspired by my own upbringing, I authored a children’s book, “Families Come in All Different Shapes, Sizes, and Colors.” I wrote it to help my son navigate the beautifully diverse world of his school community – and to illustrate that when kids with queer parents meet, they often share an instant, affirming connection.

These personal experiences inform my lens as the first openly LGBTQ+ elected school board member in the Alameda Unified School District. Which is why I am deeply disheartened by the recent Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a decision that sets a dangerous precedent for public education.

In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the court ruled in a 6-3 decision in late June that public school districts must notify parents and offer an opt-out option for curriculum that contradicts the religious beliefs parents wish to instill in their children. The case, out of Maryland, centered around elementary school students being exposed to books that portray LGBTQ+ families and characters – books that have been instrumental in making countless students feel seen and valued.

While this decision was narrowly focused on LGBTQ+ content, its implications are vast. California law already allows for limited opt-outs in areas like comprehensive sex education and state assessments. This ruling, however, paves the way for a much broader and more subjective interpretation of what content may be considered objectionable on religious grounds.

There are between 4,000 and 10,000 recognized religions, faith groups, and denominations worldwide. It is simply not feasible – or educationally sound – for public schools to tailor curriculum around every possible belief system. At what point does curricular “exposure” become conflated with indoctrination?

This ruling opens the door for parents to demand opt-outs from content related to evolution, climate science, critical race theory, and significant aspects of U.S. and world history. The potential for undermining evidence-based, inclusive education is immense – and troubling.

But ultimately, the students who are opted out will be the ones most harmed.

They will be forced into a different kind of closet – one of ignorance. Shielded from the realities of the world around them, they will miss out on opportunities to engage with diverse perspectives and identities. They will lack the foundation to understand, appreciate, and coexist in a pluralistic society.

In California, our commitment to inclusive public education remains solid. The California Education Code and the California Department of Education continue to require an age-appropriate curriculum that reflects the diversity of our communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals and families. Our public schools will continue to reject bias and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Depictions of our families will not disappear. LGBTQ+ students – and students with LGBTQ+ parents – will not go back into the closet. Instead, it may be the children of those who fear exposure to diversity who will find themselves isolated from the rich, multicultural, interconnected world we live in.

As educators, policymakers, and community leaders, we must ensure that all students have the opportunity to thrive in learning environments that are inclusive, affirming, and grounded in truth. Representation is not indoctrination – it’s education.

Ryan LaLonde, a gay man, is an elected trustee of the Alameda Unified School District, where he serves as vice president.