In response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, allowing parents to opt their children out of reading LGBTQ-themed books on the basis of religious freedom, the Jewish Center for Justice issued the following statement:
JCJ is disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision in Makowski v. Board of Education, which allows parents to opt their children out of reading LGBTQ-themed books on the basis of religious freedom.
This ruling is not just about one book or one classroom — it sets a dangerous precedent that could silence LGBTQ voices in public education under the guise of religious exemption. When we begin carving out entire communities from school curricula, we send a chilling message to students: some lives, identities, and stories are not worthy of inclusion.
At the Jewish Center for Justice, we believe that public education must reflect the dignity and diversity of all people. Jewish tradition teaches that every human being is created b’tzelem Elohim — in the image of God — and that our moral responsibility is to affirm the worth of each person, especially those most vulnerable to erasure.
Shielding students from the existence and experiences of LGBTQ individuals does not protect religious freedom — it enforces exclusion. And it undermines the mission of public schools to foster empathy, literacy, and civic belonging.
This decision is part of a broader, coordinated attempt to marginalize LGBTQ communities and sanitize curricula of the very content that promotes tolerance and justice. We must be vigilant, vocal, and values-driven in response.
JCJ will continue advocating for inclusive classrooms where all students — regardless of background, identity, or belief — feel seen, respected, and free to learn.