Parents sue Calif. school after refusing request to opt kids out of LGBT lessons

California parents are suing a school district, alleging officials refused to let them opt their young children out of LGBT-related classroom instruction despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming religious parents' rights.

Justin and Rose Taylor filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the Sunnyvale School District, arguing that the district continues to require elementary school students to participate in LGBT-themed lessons without providing parents notice or an opportunity to opt out.

The curriculum "is clearly designed to present certain values and beliefs as things to be celebrated and certain contrary values and beliefs as things to be rejected,” said the Taylors, who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormonism, and have four children, including a son in third grade and a daughter in first grade at Cumberland Elementary School.

“Our children are the most cherished part of our lives,” the parents said in a statement provided to The Christian Post. “We know and love them best and should be the ones deciding when and how they learn about sensitive topics regarding sexuality and gender.”

“Fortunately, the Supreme Court has recognized that right for religious parents nationwide,” they continued. “We hope that Sunnyvale can choose to acknowledge and respect our role as parents to direct the moral upbringing of our children.”

The lawsuit is backed by Becket and the Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Religious Liberty Clinic.

The Sunnyvale School District did not respond to The Christian Post's request for comment.

According to the complaint, the Taylors asked the district in September 2025 to notify them and allow their children to opt out whenever LGBT-themed books or similar instructional materials would be used in class.

The parents’ email highlighted the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud, Tamer, et al. v. Taylor, Thomas W., et al, ruling that Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland cannot force children to be exposed to LGBT-themed books in the curriculum.

“Yet after months of cordial conversation, Sunnyvale abruptly reversed course and denied the Taylors’ request for notice and opt-outs, stating in a letter that [LGBT] instruction ‘is not optional and is not subject to parent opt-out provisions,’” the lawsuit stated. 

The Sunnyvale School District argued that the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor addressed a specific set of facts in another state,” did not create a “general or automatic right for parents to opt their children out of required curriculum,” and “does not override California’s statutory requirements governing instructional content.”

In their suit, the Taylors ask a federal court to stop the California school district from defying the Supreme Court's ruling. 

The parents’ complaint highlights the LGBT-themed books that their children’s elementary school lists as instructional materials, including the picture book Pride Puppy. 

The book invites students as young as 3 or 4 years old to locate objects they might find at a pride parade, such as a “[drag] king” and “[drag] queen,” “leather,” “underwear,” and an image of Marsha P. Johnson, an LGBT activist and sex worker.

The Taylors contend the materials are "age-inappropriate and inconsistent with their religious beliefs, practices and child-raising philosophies," arguing that requiring their children to participate undermines their efforts to raise them according to their faith.

Michael O’Brien, counsel at Becket and lead attorney for the Taylors, stated that the Constitution “doesn’t come with a California carveout.” 

“Yet Sunnyvale is acting as if it does — attempting to sidestep Mahmoud and override the Taylors’ clearly protected parental rights while paying lip service to the very diversity the Taylors represent,” O’Brien said in a statement provided to CP. “We’re confident the federal courts will reject that approach.”