School District in Minnesota Allows Parents to Opt-Out of LGBT Curriculum After Muslim Families Object
“change comes after two public interest law firms, True North Legal and First Liberty Institute, sent letters to the school district”
It initially looked as though this was an exception for Muslim families only, but apparently it is for parents of any faith.
Alpha News reports:
St. Louis Park district agrees to let Muslim families opt out of LGBT curriculum
St. Louis Park public schools will now let parents decide whether their children should be subjected to curriculum that is LGBTQ-affirming.
This change comes after two public interest law firms, True North Legal and First Liberty Institute, sent letters to the school district saying the district’s previous denials of opt-out requests violated the First Amendment and state law.
In 2023, six Muslim families requested that St. Louis Park public schools provide notice before LGBTQ-affirming books were discussed in class. These families, who emigrated from Somalia over the last two decades, also requested the ability to opt out their children from participating in the curriculum.
According to previous press statements from the two law firms, third- and fourth-grade children who were members of the six families were exposed to LBGTQ content in October 2023. These LGBTQ-centric readings were also allegedly accompanied with the teacher’s commentary on LGBTQ identity. This situation caused “significant confusion and distress” amongst the six families.
After the intervention by True North Legal and First Liberty Institute, elementary schools and St. Louis Park High School have now begun granting opt-out requests, per a press release from the two law firms.
“True North Legal exists to protect the religious freedom of Minnesota families,” said Renee Carlson, general counsel of True North Legal. “We’re proud to have worked with these families and the St. Louis Park school district to ensure that their constitutional rights are protected. Ensuring the religious freedom of students and their families is paramount, and infringing upon that right is unacceptable.”
Fatuma Irshat, one of the mothers involved in the matter, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We believe that we have a sacred obligation to teach the principles of our faith to our children without being undermined by the schools. We are grateful to First Liberty and True North Legal for helping us and to the school for recognizing the importance of our faith.”
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Comments
Woke progressive leftists accuse christians of bigotry, but carve out exceptions for muslims??
No, they make an exception for anyone who objects. It was always obvious that allowing parents to opt out must apply to all parents, without regard to their religion, if any.
As the quoted article begins: “St. Louis Park public schools will now let parents decide whether their children should be subjected to curriculum that is LGBTQ-affirming.”
There’s nothing there about Moslems. It so happens that the six families who threatened legal action were all Moslem, but the public interest law firms that acted for them are very much not; they’re both defenders of the free exercise of religion, for everyone, so it’s impossible to imagine they would have any part of a demand for a Moslem-only opt-out.
True North Legal
FIrst Liberty Institute
Yeah. As if not a single Christian has ever objected to any of this, and yet it goes on on until a Muslim complains.
Maybe it’s closer to the truth to say “anyone who SUES.”
But I’m reasonably positive Christians have sued elsewhere and been told to take a hike.
Of course. The problem isn’t the problem, you see.
Required indoctrination regarding a favored minority is required … until another favored minority objects.
Now, does the exception apply to parents of NO faith who nevertheless object to the LGBTQIAA+EIEIO Agenda? Or do atheist and agnostic families have no rights?
From First Liberty Institute’s web site:
“…without having to explain their reasoning in detail.”
They shouldn’t have to explain their reasoning at all.
It’s a shame no Christians bothered to step forward and push back. Sounds like they could learn a few things about standing up for their faith from the Muslims.
b/c the christians know they will be attacked and that the gov will allow it
and how many muslims WHO WE APPLAUD ON THIS
WILL BE the subject of lefty attacks b/c of this ????
AS AN ASIDE
Nothice how much publicity THIS is getting
vs
the Florida school that had required parent notification for a
OMMMMMYYYYGGGGODDDD
BLACK AUTHORS WORKS TO BE READ in school
and you have to love how she said:
“do the WRONG thing”
ahahahahah
Christy Hall, a senior staff attorney with Gender Justice, a St. Paul–based law firm focused on gender equity, said the statute has never been tested in court. However, she added, if school districts make it too easy for parents to opt their children out of LGBTQ material, they could risk being sued for anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
“It is a minefield,” she said. “The potential for being sued by the other side if you do the wrong thing is very real.”
Better Call Saul (Alinsky)!
“This situation caused “significant confusion and distress” amongst the six families.”
Say the line, Bart! Say it!
*sigh…* It made them feel… UNSAFE.
What the hell is LGBTQXYZ curriculum anyway? Get your kids out of public schools.