In an emergency ruling (PDF) issued on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a religious freedom and parents’ rights case that a school policy requiring teachers to keep secrets from parents about their children’s “gender identity” is unconstitutional.
The Center for Urban Renewal and Education joined an amicus brief (PDF) in this case.
Two Christian middle school teachers, Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, complained about the policy. They asked for a religious exemption from the secrets and lies, but the school placed them on administrative leave.
To stop enforcement, the teachers filed a lawsuit on behalf of themselves, other teachers, and parents against the school district, the California Board of Education, the governor, and the state attorney general.
The case of Mirabelli, et al. v. Bonta reached the high court. The justices concluded that parents who sought religious exemptions likely would succeed on the merits, citing their decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025).
“California’s policies will likely not survive the strict scrutiny that Mahmoud demands.”
The court also concluded that the parents’ constitutional rights would be irreparably harmed, and “equities do not justify depriving [the parents] of the District Court’s judgment in their favor.”
Thomas More Society, which represents the teachers and parents, said the ruling is a landmark decision.
“This is a watershed moment for parental rights in America,” said Paul M. Jonna, Special Counsel at Thomas More Society and Partner at LiMandri and Jonna LLP,” and the court’s ruling “sets a historic precedent that will dismantle secret gender transition policies across the country.”
Photo credit: Thomas More Society
