Liberal School District Allows Teachers and Students to Opt-Out of LGBT Class After Petition from Conservative Group

The Osseo Area School District in Minnesota decided that parents could opt their children out of the upcoming “LGBTQIA+ History and Culture Lesson” following demands from conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel.

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“The Osseo Area School District 279 is presenting a pro-LGBTQ curriculum that clearly conflicts with the religious viewpoints of many employees. The First Amendment protects the right to free speech and the school district cannot force ‘compelled speech’ by requiring teachers to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs by teaching this pro-LGBTQ material,” the Liberty Counsel said in a press release.

Teachers from the school reached out to the Liberty Counsel expressing their concerns over the curriculum, and their fear of retaliation from the school if they opt out of teaching a class which goes against their beliefs.

The Liberty Counsel submitted an email to the school district demanding that they allow parents to opt their children out of the class, and adhere to the First Amendment rights of teachers opposed to the class.

“Teachers have expressed to Liberty Counsel that this one-sided LGBT political indoctrination violates parental rights and the teachers’ sincerely-held religious beliefs; that they object to teaching it; and that they fear retaliation if they seek to exercise their rights under Title VII to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for a religious accommodation,” said the Liberty Counsel.

According to the Liberty Counsel, the curriculum would force teachers to ask students questions about their sexuality, to encourage students to accept the use of trans-pronouns, and to discuss various LGBT celebrities.

Although the school district did provide parents with the opportunity to opt their children out prior to the class, it did so unclearly, in a way which would make it difficult for parents to actually do so.

Multiple bureaucratic hurdles were placed before parents who wanted to review the class’ curriculum in order to decide whether to opt out their child.

Parents wishing to review the curriculum would be required to submit a formal request through an online form, schedule a meeting, and come to the school in person.

Although the school district promised that students and teachers will be able to exercise their constitutional rights and opt out of the class, but the school did not indicate that it would change its policy regarding how parents are able to view curriculum.