Maine HIV Prevention Program Is Defunded

The Maine Department of Education will not receive funds for HIV Education and Prevention Program this year. 

"As of 2013 this program has been defunded, effectively ending one of Maine's cornerstone HIV prevention and adolescent sexual health promotion programs. Active since 1987 this program provided high quality training in evidence-based sexuality curricula to educators throughout Maine and helped fund youth leadership programs in area schools" says the Down East AIDS Network in a statement to HIV & Sexual Health Advocates last week. 

Representative Jane Pringle [D-Windham] is sponsoring a bill (L.D. 1699) that would provide funding for the Maine Department  of Education to continue running the program. 

The bill will be heard before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee in Augusta on Monday January 27th at 1pm in room 202 of the Cross State Office Building. Senator Brian Langley [R-Ellsworth] was asked about L.D. 1699 on Monday January 20th and remarked that he had yet to look at the bill and wasn't sure what it was. With a limited budget in Augusta, it's hard to find funds for great bills like this. When asked if he thought L.D. 1699 would receive its necessary funding, Langley said "If you want to kill a bill, you either vote it down, or you send it to the appropriations table to die."

Langley has been a champion on the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee when it comes to LGBTQ rights in Maine. When Langley served as Chair of the committee, he was instrumental in passing a comprehensive anti-bullying bill. Health advocates are hoping that Langley steps up to the plate on Monday to continue being someone they can count on to do the right thing. 

To contact Senator Langley about L.D. 1699, his e-mail address is: SenBrian.Langley@legislature.maine.gov, his home phone number is: (207)667-0625, and he can be contacted in the Senate Minority Office at (207)287-1505.