May 24, 2023 UPDATE:

LD 123 continues to evolve in committee. This bill originally (see below) attempted to eliminate an exception to the prohibition on the dissemination of obscene items to minors for educational purposes in public schools. The new proposed amendment strikes the entire bill and replaces it. Instead of eliminating an exception to the prohibition on the dissemination of obscene matter to minors for educational purposes in public schools, it enacts a new subsection that provides that if a matter is declared obscene under existing procedures - and the Attorney General or district attorney finds that any public school is disseminating that obscene matter - they shall issue a cease and desist order prohibiting the public school from disseminating the obscene matter.

This coalition opposing LD123 is glad to see that the proposed amendment clarifies that the new subsection does not affect the exemption provided by current law concerning criminal prosecutions of educators and school librarians. However, the coalition continues to call on the legislature to vote against LD 123 in any form and to support the preservation of the educational purposes exception in our state's legislation. The long-term negative implications of this bill on our education system and our students are vast. The legislature would be wise to maintain an open dialogue with educators, parents, and stakeholders to find alternative solutions that address any concerns without jeopardizing the quality of education we strive to provide.

Please join the Maine Library Association (MLA), Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL), the ACLU of Maine, Educate Maine, the Maine Council for English Language Arts, the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association, the Maine Humanities Council, the Maine Chapter of the National Social Workers Association, the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, The Telling Room, and EveryLibrary in opposing LD123.

Original Petition (through May 23, 2023)

Educators are under attack in the Maine Legislature. LD123 would subject Maine public school staff - including teachers, school librarians, nurses, counselors, and art teachers - subject to criminal prosecution under state obscenity laws. Maine school libraries could be harassed or prosecuted in court under obscenity laws for any books, ebooks, and educational resources in their library. Everyone who teaches health classes or art classes could be fined or even jailed over sensitive subjects. 

LD123 (2023) would expose everyone in our schools to jail time and costly lawsuits over anything any parent might find “obscene” - whether is it from classic literature or an anatomy textbook. Award-winning authors like Margaret Atwood, F. Scott Fitzgerald, or James Joyce could be caught in the crosshairs of ‘obscenity’ challenges. Groups like Moms for Liberty have gone after books about seahorses, Johnny Appleseed, and hurricanes. Even Winnie the Pooh was called into question for not wearing pants.

This isn't speculation on our part. In January, a teacher in Michigan was nearly hauled into court over a book. In Missouri, The police have been called out to schools repeatedly about books. It isn't reasonable to make criminals out of our educators and school librarians based on the whims of political parties and organizations. Maine needs to stand up for our educators before it's too late.

We need people like you to tell your state Senator to stop this bill before it goes any further. Please join the Maine Library Association (MLA), Maine Association of School Libraries (MASL), the ACLU of Maine, Educate Maine, the Maine Council for English Language Arts, the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association, the Maine Humanities Council, the Maine Chapter of the National Social Workers Association, the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, The Telling Room, and EveryLibrary in opposing LD123.