Religious schools that get public funds must follow Maine’s antidiscrimination laws, court rules
Summary
A federal court ruled that private religious schools in Maine that receive public funding must follow state antidiscrimination laws, including those protecting gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion. Two religious schools had sought exemptions from these laws, but the court mostly upheld the state’s rules while asking for further review on religious expression issues.Key Facts
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that Maine’s antidiscrimination laws apply to religious schools receiving public funds.
- Two schools, Saint Dominic Academy and Bangor Christian Schools, sought exemptions from these laws, citing religious beliefs.
- The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion in education.
- Maine allows students in towns without local public schools to attend approved private schools with public funding; religious schools were included after a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.
- The schools argued that the laws forced them to admit and support students whose identities conflicted with their religious beliefs.
- A 2024 U.S. District Court judge found no constitutional violation in Maine’s enforcement of the antidiscrimination laws.
- The appeals court agreed most with the lower court but asked for reconsideration of how religious expression rules apply to these schools.
- Maine amended its laws to clarify that religious schools not receiving public funds could discriminate based on sexual orientation.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
