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Supreme Court Allows Religious Opt-Outs That Erase Landmark LGBTQ+ History

In June 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor granted parents the right to opt their children out of any classroom instruction featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes.

While the ruling was cast as a narrow accommodation for sincerely held religious beliefs, its ripple effects threaten to hollow out large swaths of our shared history curriculum. B

elow, we explore a roster of pivotal LGBTQ+ figures and events that—if taught in public schools today—could become targets of religious-based exemptions. Understanding who’s on this list, and why their stories matter, helps clarify what’s at stake when individual objections override collective memory.

1. Stonewall Riots (June 28 – July 3, 1969)

Often called the spark of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, the Stonewall Riots began when patrons of New York City’s Stonewall Inn resisted a police raid. Over several nights of street clashes, Stonewall galvanized activists nationwide and catalyzed Pride commemorations around the world. Exempting this lesson risks erasing the moment when queer people publicly demanded dignity and justice.

2. Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992)

A founding force behind STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) and a beacon of compassion in the aftermath of Stonewall, Marsha P. Johnson fought for homeless queer youth and rallied for HIV/AIDS awareness long before mainstream acknowledgment. Her life underscores the intersection of race, poverty, and queer activism.

3. Sylvia Rivera (1951–2002)

Partner in both activism and spirit to Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera was a Latina trans pioneer who insisted that the movement’s victories include all members of the community—especially the most marginalized. Her testimony illustrates how liberation demands both protest and solidarity across lines of difference.

4. Harvey Milk (1930–1978)

One of the first openly gay elected officials in American history, Harvey Milk’s election to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors and his subsequent assassination galvanized national attention on LGBTQ+ civil rights. Milk’s advocacy for visibility and representation paved the way for countless others to “come out” safely into public life.

5. First Pride March (June 28, 1970)

Marking the one-year anniversary of Stonewall, the inaugural Pride March on Christopher Street was a bold declaration of queer presence in the streets of New York City. Today’s global Pride festivals owe their energy and spirit to that first, courageous parade.

6. Assassination of Harvey Milk (November 27, 1978)

Milk’s murder—and the public mourning and activism it ignited—became a turning point in LGBTQ+ legal and cultural recognition. His death reminded the nation that prejudice can be lethal, and that political engagement is often a matter of survival.

7. Alan Turing (1912–1954)

Beneath the code-breaking genius who helped win World War II lay a tragic tale of criminal prosecution for homosexuality. Forced to undergo chemical “treatment,” Turing’s fate stands as one of the most heartbreaking intersections of scientific progress and social bigotry.

8. Dr. James Barry (c. 1789–1865)

Born Margaret Ann Bulkley but living most of their adult life as James Barry, this pioneering army surgeon performed groundbreaking operations across the British Empire. Barry’s story challenges rigid gender norms in the 19th century and reminds us of the countless trans lives lost to historical erasure.

9. Baron Friedrich von Steuben (1730–1794)

The Prussian officer credited with transforming the Continental Army into a disciplined fighting force is believed by many historians to have been gay. His role in the American Revolution illustrates that LGBTQ+ contributions to our nation date back to its very founding.

10. Sally Ride (1951–2012)

America’s first woman in space kept her same-sex partnership private during her lifetime. In the decades since her death, Ride has become an icon not only for women in STEM, but also for LGBTQ+ scientists whose careers have too often been shadowed by prejudice.

11. Stormé DeLarverie (1920–2014)

Sometimes called “the Rosa Parks of Pride,” DeLarverie’s resistance to police harassment at Stonewall is credited with sparking the riots themselves. As a biracial butch lesbian, her life story underscores how multiple axes of identity collide in the fight for justice.

12. Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)

The Irish playwright whose wit enchanted Victorian society was ultimately brought low by a sodomy conviction. Wilde’s trial and imprisonment became a cause célèbre that revealed the stark hypocrisy of a culture that both idolized and vilified him.

13. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)

Long after his death, historians have scrutinized accusations of sodomy brought against da Vinci in 1476. Today, his life invites us to consider how Renaissance creativity and queer experience have been intertwined—and too often written out of art-history narratives.

Why These Stories Matter

Each of these figures and events expands our understanding of who we are as a society—and how notions of progress, freedom, and identity have evolved. When religious objections lead to “opt-outs,” we risk segmenting history into countless pockets of silence. The consequence isn’t just a patchwork curriculum; it’s a generation of students who remain ignorant of the full, rich tapestry of human experience.

Toward a More Inclusive Future

Sincerity and scope: Schools can—and should—require parents to document sincere, narrowly tailored objections rather than permit broad vetoes.

Advance notice: Transparent communication about upcoming lessons gives families time to discuss sensitive topics at home without undermining classroom cohesion.

Alternative engagement: Rather than isolating a student, schools might offer supplemental materials that approach the same historical facts from a different angle—ensuring no child misses the lesson entirely.

By naming the specific individuals and milestones under threat, we reaffirm their rightful place in our shared story—and recommit to teaching history in full, without carving out islands of erasure.

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