Maine Attorney General Janet Mills says Maine's new gay marriage law is not related to the state's public school curricula. Mills examined language in LD 1020 at the request of Maine Education Commissioner Susan Gendron, who said parents were questioning public school superintendents about how the law might affect what's taught in public schools.
"I have scoured Maine laws relating to the eduction of its children for any references to marriage in the public school curricula. I have found none," Mills says today in a letter to Gendron.
Same-sex marriage opponents have claimed that the law will reuslt in children being taought about gay marriage in public schools. Mills says guidelines for Maine's public school curricula come from the so-called "Maine Learning Results," which sets educational standards in math, reading, science and technology, as well as minimum graduation requirements.
She says current law provides for "accommodation provisions in instances where course content conflicts with sincerely held religious beliefs and practices of a student's parent or guardian."
Mills says local school boards in Maine have the final say on what material is allowed to be used in local schools, and the law won't change that.
LD 1020 is on hold pending the outcome of a so-called "people's veto" referendum on the November ballot.