Yesterday, Mitt Romney attacked the Democratic presidential candidates for agreeing to allow their children to read a story about same-sex marriage as part of their school curriculum.

Last night’s debate was just the latest example of how out of touch the Democratic presidential candidates are with the American people. Not one candidate was uncomfortable with young children learning about same-sex marriage in the second grade. This is a subject that should be left to parents, not public school teachers. We need to strengthen our families by passing a federal marriage amendment and also insisting on marriage before having children. Change in Washington requires Democrats with the courage to stand-up to their ultra liberal base and do what’s right for our children.”

As it turns out, Mitt Romney is “out of touch” with the American Constitution and the laws of his own state. Wednesday’s debate exchange was inspired by a lawsuit in which a pair of parents argued that in introducing a book about same-sex marriages into the school curriculum, the Lexington public schools violated the parents’ constitutional right to raise their children and to freely exercise their religion.

In his decision dismissing the case, Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf of the United States District Court of Massachusetts recognized that “parents do have a fundamental right to raise their children” as they please, but affirmed the public school’s right “to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.”

In fact, the judge argued that Massachusetts law, which recognizes same-sex marriages, “requires that public school curricula encourage respect for all individuals regardless of, among other things, sexual orientation.”

The constitutional right of parents to raise their children does not include the right to restrict what public school may teach their children and that teachings which contradict a parent’s religious beliefs do not violate their First Amendment right to exercise their religion. […]

Diversity is a hallmark of our nation. It is increasingly evident that our diversity includes differences in sexual orientation…It is reasonable for public educators to teach elementary school students about individuals with different sexual orientations and about various forms of families, including those with same sex-parents, in an effort to eradicate the effects of past discrimination, to reduce the risk of future discrimination and, in the process, to affirm our nation’s constitutional commitment to promoting mutual respect among members of our diverse society.

Romney’s bigoted stance is clearly contrary to the laws of the US and his home state of Massachusetts. Once again, Romney is allowing his religious beliefs to color his positions on public policy.

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