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Pride Puppy! at the Center of Supreme Court Case
A heartwarming narrative unfolds when a puppy gets lost during a Pride Parade, inspiring a community to come together and reunite the pup with its family. This touching scenario is depicted in the book Pride Puppy!, authored by Robin Stevenson from Vancouver Island and published in 2021.
Described as an “affirming and inclusive book,” Pride Puppy! presents a joyful representation of a Pride parade and the vibrant community that celebrates this annual event. However, it has recently found itself entangled in a legal battle before the U.S. Supreme Court in Maryland.
At the outset of the 2022-2023 academic year, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Maryland’s largest school district serving over 160,000 students, embraced a selection of storybooks featuring LGBTQ+ characters for its language-arts curriculum. Among these was Pride Puppy!.
Andrew Woolridge, from Orca Book Publishers, has remarked on the evolving landscape of book bans, referring to the current situation as a “more chilling” trend focusing on specific groups. He expressed concerns about the growing frequency with which LGBTQ+ themed books are being challenged and removed from shelves, noting the hesitance of schools to incorporate them due to fear of backlash.
MCPS stated in a filing with the Supreme Court that the intent behind including these storybooks was for students to engage with them like any other reading material, allowing them to be used in various educational formats without being tied to lessons specifically addressing gender and sexuality.
In contrast, a group of parents requested notifications when these books were to be read in class and sought alternative lessons for their children. In March 2023, when MCPS declined to accommodate this opt-out request—citing concerns about high absenteeism—the parents initiated a lawsuit.
The petitioners contended that their children’s exposure to the storybooks imposed on their rights to freely practice their religion. However, legal precedents indicate that exposure to controversial topics in school curricula does not infringe upon the religious freedoms of students or parents, as noted in the court documents.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments regarding whether MCPS infringe upon parental religious rights by ceasing to allow opt-outs from classes involving these books, with oral arguments scheduled for April 22.
Woolridge articulated that while the case has been framed as a “parental rights versus religious freedoms” matter, it increasingly resembles a scenario where “hate is disguised as parental rights.”
The other books in question feature narratives such as a niece meeting her uncle’s future husband, a prince who’s in love with a knight, a girl navigating her feelings over a Valentine, and a transgender boy sharing his identity with his family. These tales resonate with themes found in traditional children’s literature such as Snow White, Cinderella, and Peter Pan, according to court documents.
Stevenson has reportedly distanced herself from social media in light of the situation, facing significant personal threats related to the backlash against her work. Woolridge conveyed that some authors have received direct death threats, a troubling reality especially against the backdrop of books that promote inclusivity and diversity.
Though Stevenson has chosen not to participate in interviews regarding this legal issue, Woolridge affirmed that Orca Publishing stands firm in support of their authors and the topics they address, noting the importance of addressing injustices even when they do not directly impact an individual.
Source
globalnews.ca