U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and a lawyer for a Maryland school district had a spirited exchange this week over a children’s book at the center of a legal battle brought by parents seeking the right to opt their children out of reading LGBTQ-themed storybooks in public school.
During oral arguments, Gorsuch questioned Alan Schoenfeld, the attorney representing Montgomery County Public Schools, about Pride Puppy!—a 32-page rhyming alphabet book that follows a family celebrating Pride Day as they search for their lost dog in the midst of the parade. Described by its publisher as “affirming and inclusive,” the book invites readers to identify alphabet-themed objects while offering “a joyful glimpse of a Pride parade and the vibrant community that celebrates this day each year.” Fox News noted that previously the book was used — shockingly — in the left-wing school district’s “pre-Kindergarten” cirriculum.
Here’s the exchange:
“And they’re being used in English language instruction at age 3?” Gorsuch asked.
“‘Pride Puppy!’ was the book that was used for the pre-kindergarten curriculum. That’s no longer in the curriculum,” replied Schoenfeld.
“That’s the one where they’re supposed to look for the leather and things – and bondage – things like that,” Gorsuch responded.
“It’s not bondage. It’s a woman in a leather…”
A “Sex worker?” asked Gorsuch.
“No. That’s not correct. No,” replied Schoenfeld.
“Gosh, I read it…drag queen?” said Gorsuch.
Schoenfeld clarified that the reference to “leather” in the book is actually a depiction of a woman wearing a leather jacket, and noted that “one of the words is drag queen.” The Supreme Court was hearing arguments in a case filed by faith parents who argue — correctly, by the way — that young children cannot reasonably be expected to distinguish between a teacher’s moral messaging and the values taught at home, Fox News noted.
Eric Baxter, the attorney representing the Maryland parents in Mahmoud v. Taylor, argued before the justices that the school district violated the First Amendment by rejecting opt-out requests for books that “contradict their religious beliefs.” He pointed out that the district has granted exemptions for other religious concerns, such as materials depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad (of course), highlighting what he described as inconsistent treatment.
It gets worse. Baxter stated that after the district approved certain LGBTQ-themed curriculum books in 2022, teachers were required to incorporate those materials into their classroom instruction. In other words, actual adults entrusted to do what’s best for children in the school district actually saw this disgustingly inappropriate material for the age group and said, ‘Yes, this is something we want young children to be exposed to.’ And then got a lawyer to argue before the highest court in the land that doing so was a great idea.
“When the books were first introduced in August of 2022, the board suggested they be used five times before the end of the year,” Baxter said. “One of the schools, Sherwood School, in June for Pride Month said that they were going to read one book each day.” The district initially permitted parents to opt their children out for religious reasons but reversed that policy by March 2023, incrdulously citing ‘concerns’ over increased absenteeism and ‘administrative challenges.’
There’s more. Also central to the case is Prince & Knight, a modern fairy tale for children ages 4 to 8 that tells the story of two men who fall in love after teaming up to defeat a dragon and eventually get married. Another book frequently mentioned during oral arguments was Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, which follows a young girl as she comes to terms with her favorite uncle’s decision to marry another man.
So, while children in American public schools are falling farther behind in basic all-important knowledge of reading and comprehension, writing, math, and science, Democrats are obsessed with spoon-feeding our kids pornographic filth and sexually inappropriate homosexual content under the guise of ‘tolerance’ and the ‘First Amendment.’ No wonder that party’s nationwide approval has cratered to 28 percent.