East Central Reporter

Chris Miller, a state representative for Illinois House District 101, said he is closely monitoring the U.S. Supreme Court's June 27 decision permitting parents to opt their children out of LGBTQIA-related school materials.

"Following a 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court decision last Friday, siding with parents in opting out their children from school curriculum with LGBTQ storybooks," said Chris G. Miller, Illinois State Representative for 101st District, according to Facebook. "Parents have every right to protect their children from woke ideology!"

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on June 27 in Mahmoud v. Taylor that requiring children to participate in education conflicting with their family's religious beliefs burdens their religious exercise. The case originated from a challenge to Montgomery County Public Schools' policy that did not allow parents to opt their elementary school children out of classroom materials addressing gender identity and sexual orientation. According to CNN, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, while Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion. The Montgomery County Board of Education and Montgomery County Public Schools are reviewing the decision and preparing guidance for schools and families ahead of the next academic year.

Screenshot of State Representative Chris Miller's June 30 Facebook post | State Representative Chris Miller's Facebook page

According to SCOTUSblog, the case involved a series of LGBTQ+-inclusive picture books included in the K–5 English Language Arts curriculum. Parents had previously been allowed to opt their children out of these lessons, but in 2023, the Montgomery County Board of Education ended that practice. Families from Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and other religious backgrounds filed suit; however, both a Maryland district court and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against them.

Miller was first elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives in 2019 and is an Illinois native. He is a third-generation cattle farmer and grain operator in Hindsboro. He earned an associate degree in agriculture from Lake Land College and has a Bachelor of Science in Education, according to his official biography.