By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Proponents of same-sex marriage in Maine are scrambling to persuade the public that homosexuality will not be taught in schools after a pro-family ad featured an interview with a Massachusetts teacher who described how she teaches gay and lesbian sex to schoolchildren now that same-sex marriage is legal in that state.
According to a report by LifeSiteNews.com, an ad sponsored by “Stand for Marriage Maine,” featured an excerpt from an interview with a Massachusetts teacher on National Public Radio (NPR) who said she feels safe teaching about homosexual activities because same-sex marriage is legal in that state.
“I know that, ok, this is legal now,” the teacher says. “If someone wants to challenge me, I say, ‘Oh give me a break.'”
In another part of the ad, the teacher explains the nature of her lessons on homosexuality. She describes how she goes through a chart with her class: “Can a woman and a woman kiss and hug? Yes.” She goes on to ask if two women can have intercourse and when the class answers, “No!” she proceeds to tell them, in graphic detail, how two women can perform this act.
Further evidence of how the legalization of same-sex marriage affects what is taught in schools can be found in the case of Robb and Robin Wirthlin of Massachusetts whose 2nd grade son was read a book in school about two gay princes who fall in love and marry.
“According to Robb Wirthlin, when he and his wife lost a legal challenge against the school, it was troubling for him to hear the judge suggest ‘that the state must teach these things to children before they’ve had a chance to make up their own minds,’” LifeSiteNews reported.
When confronted with this evidence, those who support gay marriage insist that the idea of pushing same-sex marriage in schools is “absurd.”
“That’s the kind of stuff I find really offensive,” said Jim Bishop, a volunteer for the Protect Marriage Equality campaign, in an interview with NPR. “Saying that we’re going to teach about gay marriage and gay lifestyle in the schools, and that we’re going to try to convert. This is just absurd.”
“I think that their intention is to scare parents into thinking that something will be taught in schools that won’t be taught in schools,” said Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree, who supports the law.
“The Maine Legislature never discussed school curriculum,” she continued. “The attorney general has been very clear that Maine law says that marriage is not part of curriculum. So anything about marriage will not be part of curriculum after this is passed.”
Maine’s Attorney General, Janet Mills, who supports same-sex marriage, weighed in on the matter, saying that “whatever the benefits and burdens of the civil institution of marriage, the state’s definition of marriage has no bearing on the curricula in our public schools, either under current law or under LD 1020 [the homosexual “marriage” law].”
She also attempts to assure parents that their religious beliefs will be respected by arguing that there are already “safeguards for persons with religious beliefs … in the law.”
However, Marc Mutty of Stand for Marriage Maine, says Mills’ legal opinion “has not even a shred of pretense of independence or objectivity.”
He continued: “The opinion poses a position that our campaign does not advocate – that LD 1020 affirmatively changes the curricula to require instruction on gay marriage. That is not our position. Our position is that no change to Maine’s curricula is necessary in order for homosexual marriage to be taught in our schools. Further, that homosexual marriage is taught in other states where it has been legalized. When they study the facts, Mainers will see right through Ms. Mills’ opinion for what it is: a shameless political ploy by supporters of homosexual marriage.”
He concludes: “We have demonstrated how it could be taught in schools, and that it HAS been taught in other states that have legalized gay marriage. It’s a shame that Maine’s top lawyer is using her good office for such a transparent political stunt.”
Meanwhile, NPR has ordered Stand for Marriage Maine to “cease and desist” running the ad citing copyright infringement. However, attorneys for the pro-marriage group say the use of small amounts of copyrighted content by a non-profit for educational purposes is permitted under Fair Use laws.
Citizens of Maine will vote in two weeks on whether to exercise their right to veto a law allowing same-sex marriage which was passed by the state legislature in May. The latest polls show voters to be locked in a dead heat over the initiative.
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