On April 22, 2025 the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a case about whether a Maryland school district must provide parents who object to LGBTQ+ books on religious grounds the option to take their children out of experiences involving them.
The authors and illustrators of the nine books central to this case have released a joint statement in response to the oral arguments that PEN America shares below.
“We are the authors and illustrators of the nine books named in Mahmoud v Taylor, argued yesterday before the Supreme Court. We stand in support of the Montgomery County School District. We oppose censoring or segregating LGBTQ-affirming books like ours.
We wrote our books so that all children can feel seen. We wrote them so that all children can learn to be kind. Hiding our books away sends a devastating message to students: that their lives and their families are so dangerous that they cannot be discussed in school.
A ruling for the plaintiffs in this case would undermine teachers in their efforts to create safe, inclusive classrooms—places where all children should be treated with respect.
Our most basic duty as members of society is to respect and care for each other, no matter how different we may be. Learning to get along with people who are different from yourself is part of a public school education.
We urge the Supreme Court to reject the plaintiff’s demands.
- Sarah Brannen, author of Uncle Bobby’s Wedding
- Chris Case, illustrator of Jacob’s Room to Choose
- Carolyn Choi, author of IntersectionAllies: We Make Room For All
- LaToya Council, author of IntersectionAllies: We Make Room For All
- Daniel Haack, author of Prince & Knight
- Ian Hoffman, author of Jacob’s Room to Choose
- Sarah Hoffman, author of Jacob’s Room to Choose
- Katherine Locke, author of What Are Your Words?
- Julie McLaughlin, illustrator of Pride Puppy
- DeShanna Neal, author of My Rainbow
- Andy Passchier, illustrator of What Are Your Words?
- Jodie Patterson, author of Born Ready: The True Story of a Boy Named Penelope
- Chelsea Johnson Rabb, author of IntersectionAllies: We Make Room For All
- Ashley Seil Smith, illustrator of IntersectionAllies: We Make Room For All
- Robin Stevenson, author of Pride Puppy
- Charlotte Sullivan Wild, author of Love, Violet
PEN America has filed an amicus brief in Mahmoud v. Taylor in support of the Montgomery County school district. The organization stands with writers and illustrators who defend the stories they tell about LGBTQ people, families, and related themes.
