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The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) provides a forum for the discussion of activities, programs, and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians.

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  • 1.  Opt-Out of LGBTQ Materials Case at the Supreme Court

    Posted Apr 25, 2025 10:34 AM

    There is an interesting case that has been heard by the Supreme Court and was reported on the SCOTUS blog.



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    Xan Lasko
    Librarian/Media Specialist
    Retired
    She/Her/Hers
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  • 2.  RE: Opt-Out of LGBTQ Materials Case at the Supreme Court

    Posted Apr 26, 2025 03:13 PM

    Hi Xan,

        I read the SCOTUS blog and listened to the Oral Arguments.  This is a dilemma and it seems to me that Justices Kagan, Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, see a broader scenario here that goes beyond the issue of opt-outs for LGBTQ+ themed storybooks.  Will opt-outs become the questioning of the contents of the books themselves as Justice Kagan suggested?  Where is the red-line?  Also, I believe that Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson  wondered if the parents objecting to the books for religious reasons might seek out schools that are more in line with their beliefs. Choice schools and Voucher schools are funded by public schools in many areas and there may be no need for cost to be an issue.  I can't fathom the difficulty that teachers encounter juggling classwork ,  behavior, and making decisions about who leaves and when and where. A nightmare!   Yes, this is a censorship issue ,  but I'm guessing that the majority of the Court won't see it that way.

             Respectfully,

               Claire Rafferty Gallam



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    Claire Gallam
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Opt-Out of LGBTQ Materials Case at the Supreme Court

    Posted Apr 28, 2025 03:35 PM
    Hello All,

    At the April 22 IFRT Reads program on How to Defend Public Education, we had some discussion on these issue.  The purpose of a public education is to promote equity, equality,  shared understanding, critical thinking and empathy in order to prepare citizens to be part of a democracy.   We cannot bow to parents opting their children out of certain classes because they do not want them to learn about Black history or LGBTQ identity or women's rights.  That defeats the whole purpose of a public education which aims to promote shared understanding. 
      
    Furthermore, taking money out of public education funds to promote private and religious schools, contradicts the purpose of public schools as well as the U.S. constitution's separation of religion and state.  Using public education funds for private schools should only be acceptable when there is a request for an accommodation such as a disability which a particular public school system cannot address.  Otherwise,  our goal should be to work on improving the existing public school system not to impoverish and dismantle it.

    Frieda Afary
    Director-at-Large
    Intellectual Freedom Round Table



    Original Message