By — Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press By — Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/listen-live-supreme-court-hears-case-on-catholic-preschools-and-lgbtq-families Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter LISTEN LIVE: Supreme Court hears case on Catholic preschools and LGBTQ families Politics Nov 3, 2026 10:00 AM EST WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in a case brought by Catholic preschools that say it's unconstitutional to exclude them from a state-funded program over their admissions policy for LGBTQ+ families, the latest religious-rights case before the conservative-majority court. Arguments begin at 10 a.m. EST. Listen live in the video player above. Colorado says their refusal to admit kids from those families violates the state's anti-discrimination law. But St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver argue that the policy is based on religious teachings about same-sex marriage and that excluding them violates their free-exercise rights. WATCH LIVE: Election night 2026 PBS News special coverage President Donald Trump's administration is supporting the Catholic institutions. Educate your inbox…
LISTEN LIVE: Supreme Court hears case on Catholic preschools and LGBTQ families
In short
The Archdiocese of Denver and St. Mary Catholic Parish challenge their exclusion from Colorado's universal preschool initiative, arguing their admissions policies reflect religious beliefs on marriage and gender. State officials counter that public program participants cannot discriminate against children from LGBTQ+ families under state law. The Catholic preschools, which have suffered a 20% enrollment drop since the initiative launched after a 2020 ballot measure, argue religious criteria deserve exceptions similar to those granted for income or disability.
Key points
- The legal dispute pits constitutional free-exercise rights against state nondiscriminatio…: The legal dispute pits constitutional free-exercise rights against state nondiscrimination mandates regarding LGBTQ+ families in publicly funded programs.
- A decision favoring the Catholic schools could significantly weaken a 1990 precedent that…: A decision favoring the Catholic schools could significantly weaken a 1990 precedent that broadly applied laws do not require religious exemptions.
- The conservative-majority bench has previously overturned exclusions of religious schools…: The conservative-majority bench has previously overturned exclusions of religious schools in Maine and Montana but deadlocked in 2025 on a Catholic charter school.