Mother, father, and child, Source https://pxhere.com/tr/photo/1445573, Author @mohamed hassan (CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)
The US Supreme Court has handed down a significant decision in Mirabelli v. Bonda reaffirming parental rights [1][2].
California law had required that schools effectively mislead parents about their children’s gender presentation, withholding information from parents as to their children’s use of preferred pronouns at school. California viewed such disclosure as “forced outing” – as if the state had a greater interest in the welfare of children than their own parents [3].
The US Supreme Court ruling upheld the constitutional rights of parents to freely exercise their religion and direct the upbringing and education of their children [4][5].
In a related decision, Regino v. Staley, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last year pointed out that although the right of parents to make decisions for their children is not unbounded, the inquiry in cases of substantive due process is “whether the asserted fundamental right is objectively, deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition, and implicit in the concept of ordered liberty, such that neither liberty nor justice would exist if it was sacrificed [6].”
The existence of the family could hardly be more fundamental, and long predated the existence of the state.
Biblical View
The Bible contains a wealth of verses addressing the responsibilities of parents. Two that have bearing here are, as follows:
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deut. 6: 6-7).
This instructs parents to teach their children God’s commands continually.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22: 6).
This highlights the importance of parental instruction and its long-lasting impact. It implicitly recognizes the vulnerability of children to outside influence.
Every person, regardless of perceived gender identity, was intentionally made by God and is valued by Him (Ps. 139: 14; Jer. 1: 5). Gender dysphoria does not disqualify someone from God’s love. God, however, made them male and female, with biological sex and gender linked (Gen. 1: 27). Parents should not be penalized for teaching their children that biblical truth.
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[1] Justia, “Mirabelli v. Bonta, 606 US _ (2026), https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/607/25a810/.
[2] CBS News, “Supreme Court block California law that barred schools from notifying parents if their children are transgender”, 3/2/26, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-blocks-california-law-barred-schools-notifying-parents-transgender-children/.
[3] Politico, “Supreme Court sides with parents in lawsuit over California’s ban on ‘forced outing’ of students” by Eric He, 3/2/26, https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/02/supreme-court-sides-with-parents-in-lawsuit-over-californias-ban-on-forced-outing-of-students-00808138?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHqwqyW5yv20TCzNeKBGgschfe4JiPwn2GnvZKPPNSmhluyga_qCSKFMMWSxf_aem_R-hkvPCL2Su69ogxmpHqNQ.
[4] Reason, “S. Ct. Reinstates Trial Court Injunction Blocking Cal. Policy Limiting Schools’ Disclosure to Parents of Student’s Changed Gender Identity” by Eugene Volokh, 3/2/26, https://reason.com/volokh/2026/03/02/s-ct-reinstates-trial-court-injunction-blocking-cal-policy-limiting-schools-disclosure-to-parents-of-students-changed-gender-identity/.
[5] California Family Council, “Supreme Court Reverses Ninth Circuit Stay in Mirabelli v. Bonta, Reinforces Parental Authority, and Delivers Generational Win for Families”, 3/2/26, https://www.californiafamily.org/2026/03/us-supreme-court-blocks-californias-secret-transition-policies-restores-parents-rights/.
[6] Justia, “Regino v. Staley, No. 23-16031 (9th Cir. 2025), https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/23-16031/23-16031-2025-04-04.html.
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