Exclusive | Christian family sues Bay Area school district over sex, gender lessons that violate religious beliefs

A Bay Area Christian couple is taking the Sunnyvale school district to court — alleging their child’s elementary school refused to let them opt out of sex and gender identity lessons that contradict their religious beliefs.Justin and Rose Taylor, both devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, claim the district flatly declined to excuse their two elementary-aged children from lessons on gender transitions and same-sex relationships in violation of a Supreme Court decision last year that affirmed the rights of parents to opt out of such material on religious grounds.That court decision in Mahmoud v.

Taylor held that a group of Muslim, Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox parents in suburban Maryland could opt out of LGBTQ+ lessons at their public schools.Yet the Taylors, Sunnyvale residents with four children, were told in February that similar LGBTQ+ lessons in Sunnyvale schools were simply “not optional,” according to a copy of a lawsuit filed in California’s Northern District on Tuesday.

California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story “Our children are the most cherished part of our lives,” the couple told The Post in a statement.

“We know and love them best and should be the ones deciding when and how they learn about sensitive topics regarding sexuality and gender.” “Fortunately, the Supreme Court has recognized that right for religious parents nationwide.We hope that Sunnyvale can choose to acknowledge and respect our role as parents to direct the moral upbringing of our children,” they added.

The Taylors argued in the legal complaint that Sunnyvale’s LGBTQ+ instruction “goes far beyond teaching kindness and respect,” instilling what they call an “ideological view of gender and sexuality” that undermin...