A children's book written and published in Victoria is front and centre of a U.S. Supreme Court case.
Pride Puppy, which tells the story of a lost dog at a pride parade, is described by Victoria-based Orca Book Publishers as a "joyful" and "affirming and inclusive book." It's one of several books in the state of Maryland's reading curriculum that a group of parents believes their children should be excused from when it is read aloud in class.
According to a court filing, the curriculum was changed in recent years to better represent the district's students, many of whom were not reflected in the reading materials.
"These books now include characters, families, and historical figures from a range of cultural, racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds," the filing states.
However, three sets of parents asked Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) – Maryland's largest school district – to notify them in advance, excuse their children from class and provide alternate lessons whenever the storybooks were read.
While MCPS initially allowed opt-outs, a rising number of requests led to challenges, including high absenteeism. The school district reversed its policy, prompting the parents to sue in March 2023.
Now, the U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether a public school’s curriculum violates parents' religious freedom rights simply by exposing their children to material the parents oppose on religious grounds.
The filing said petitioners "seek to unsettle a decades-old consensus."
It noted that the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, among other appeal courts, has already ruled that exposure to curriculum materials conflicting with parents’ religious beliefs does not violate their right to free exercise of religion.
"The storybooks are not used in any lessons related to gender and sexuality. Nor is any student asked or expected to change his or her views," the court filing says.
Pride Puppy was written by author Robin Stevenson, who was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence in 2023.
While she was not available for comment, in a past blog, the queer author describes how a teacher shamed her during a book reading on the subject of pride that she was asked to give.
A student messaged her after to say that she loved the talk and was upset that Stevenson did not get to finish it.
Stevenson stated that shutting down the subject and discussion of pride "is not ok."
"It sends a message that is shaming, silencing and harmful to their students."
Orca publisher Andrew Woolridge has also addressed challenges to stories like Pride Puppy in a recent press release.
These challenges don't just threaten free expression, he said.
"They undermine opportunities for children to grow into thoughtful, compassionate individuals."
Oral arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court are scheduled to begin on April 22.
