The father of a Lexington, Massachusetts kindergartner is suing the town’s school district over the inclusion of books with LGBTQ+ themes that he says conflict with his religious values.

Reports Boston.com:

The parent, referred to as “Alan L.” in the Oct. 17 complaint, specifically pointed to picture books depicting same-sex couples and their children — classroom instruction he says is “unmistakably normative and contradicts his family’s faith by normalizing and celebrating LGBTQ relationships and identities.”

He’s suing Lexington Public Schools, the Lexington School Committee, and three administrators in federal court, accusing them of violating his civil rights, due process rights, freedom of religion, and right to direct his child’s upbringing.

In an affidavit filed earlier this month, Alan L. said it goes against his religious beliefs to allow his child, J.L., to be instructed in content that touches on “diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, including issues of race, gender, and sexuality, taught from a secular worldview.”

“I should not have to choose between enrolling my child in public school and protecting J.L.’s religious upbringing,” he wrote. “But that is the choice [Lexington school officials] are forcing me to make.”

He’s asking a federal judge to keep Lexington from forcing his son to participate in lessons that conflict with the family’s religious beliefs without prior notice and the opportunity to opt-out, among other stipulations. 

Alan L. has also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction that would, among other things, require advanced notice of classroom materials on sexual education, LGBTQ relationships or identities, and lessons “promoting the LGBTQ Pride movement or Black Lives Matter.”

A judge has yet to rule on the request. …

But in a motion opposing the preliminary injunction, Lexington Public Schools said J.L.’s teachers do not recall him being in class for the readings in question. School officials noted J.L. has an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, that calls for more time outside the kindergarten classroom than in it. Both picture books were purportedly shown during times when J.L. is typically receiving out-of-classroom services, according to the response. 

Lexington officials further alleged Alan L.’s opt-out requests were too broad and vague. Both sides are at odds over whether the district was required to comply under a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in which the justices sided with religious parents who want to pull their children out of class when a lesson features LGBTQ-themed storybooks. 

Read the complete Boston.com story here.

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