Analysts have warned that schools across the nation will be
impacted by the decision, since textbook publishers must cater to
their largest purchaser, which often is California, and they will
be unlikely to go to the expense of having a separate edition for
other states.
The bills signed by Schwarzenegger include SB777, which bans
anything in public schools that could be interpreted as negative
toward homosexuality, bisexuality and other alternative lifestyle
choices.
There are no similar protections for students with traditional or
conservative lifestyles and beliefs, however.
"SB 777 will result in reverse discrimination against students with
religious and traditional family values," said Meredith Turney,
legislative liaison for Capitol Resource Institute. "These students
have lost their voice as the direct result of Gov. Schwarzenegger's
unbelievable decision. The terms 'mom and dad' or 'husband and
wife' could promote discrimination against homosexuals if a
same-sex couple is not also featured.
"Parents want the assurance that when their children go to school
they will learn the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic
not social indoctrination regarding alternative sexual
lifestyles. Now that SB777 is law, schools will in fact become
indoctrination centers for sexual experimentation," she said.
England told WND that the law is not a list of banned words,
including "mom" and "dad." But she said the requirement is that the
law bans discriminatory bias.
"Having 'mom' and 'dad' promotes a discriminatory bias. You have to
either get rid of 'mom' and 'dad' or include everything when
talking about [parental issues]," she said. "They [promoters of
sexual alternative lifestyles] do consider that
discriminatory."
Also signed was AB394, which targets parents and teachers for such
indoctrination through "anti-harassment" training, CCF said.
Schwarzenegger had vetoed almost identical provisions a year ago,
saying existing state law already provided for penalties for
discrimination.
"We had hoped that the governor would once again veto this
outrageous legislation but he obviously decided to side with the
out-of-touch extremists that control the legislature. This law does
not reflect the true values of the average Californian,"; said
England. "True leadership means standing up for what is true and
right."
Thomasson said SB777 prohibits any "instruction" or
school-sponsored "activity" that "promotes a discriminatory bias"
against "gender" the bill's definition includes cross-dressing
and sex changes as well as "sexual orientation.";
"Because no textbook or instruction in California public schools
currently disparages transsexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality,
the practical effect of SB777 will be to require positive
portrayals of these sexual lifestyles at every government-operated
school," CCF noted.
Offenders will face the wrath of the state Department of Education,
up to and including lawsuits.
CCF noted that now on a banned list will be any text, reference or
teaching aid that portrays marriage as only between a man and
woman, materials that say people are born male or female (and not
in between), sources that fail to include a variety of transsexual,
bisexual and homosexual historical figures, and sex education
materials that fail to offer the option of sex changes.
Further, homecoming kings now can be either male or female as can
homecoming queens, and students, whether male or female, must be
allowed to use the restroom and locker room corresponding to the
sex with which they choose to identify.
AB394 promotes the same issues through state-funded publications,
postings, curricula and handouts to students, parents and
teachers.
It also creates the circumstances where a parent who says marriage
is only for a man and a woman in the presence of a lesbian teacher
could be convicted of "harassment," and a student who believes
people are born either male or female could be reported as a
"harasser" by a male teacher who wears women's clothes, CCF
said.
Thomasson said Schwarzenegger also signed AB14, which prohibits
state funding for any program that does not support a range of
alternative sexual practices, including state-funded social
services run by churches.
Affected will be day cares, preschool or after-school programs,
food and housing programs, senior services, anti-gang efforts, jobs
programs and others.
Thomasson said it also forces every hospital in California even
private, religious hospitals to adopt policies in support of
transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality and opens up
nonprofit organizations to lawsuits if they exclude members that
engage in homosexual, bisexual, or transsexual conduct.
"It's the height of intolerance to punish individuals,
organizations, businesses, and churches that have moral standards
on sexual conduct and sexual lifestyles," said Thomasson, in
response to the signing of AB14. "This is another insensitive law
that violates people's moral boundaries."
The vitriol over the issue rose to new levels in its latest
campaign.
As WND reported, a board member for the homosexual advocacy group
Equality California verbally attacked and threatened CRI for its
opposition to the bill earlier.
The board member sent an e-mail and video to CRI threatening the
group would be buried if it continued efforts opposing the
homosexual advocacy.
"The shocking hate mail we received shows that those behind this
legislation do not promote true tolerance," said England. "Only
politically correct speech will be tolerated. Those with religious
or traditional moral beliefs will not be allowed to express their
opinions in public schools."
She also cited an informational document published by the
Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the Transgender Law Center that
already is lobbying for special treatment in the school
system.
"If you want to use a restroom that matches your gender identity
you should be allowed to do so," it advises. "Whenever students are
divided up into boys and girls, you should be allowed to join the
group or participate in the program that matches your gender
identity as much as possible."
Further, the groups advise, "If you change your name to one that
better matches your gender identity, a school needs to use that
name to refer to you." The advocacy group also warns schools
against bringing parents into any such discussion with
students.
WND has documented a number of earlier cases in which educators,
including leaders in California, have taken it upon themselves to
promote a homosexual lifestyle to children under their
charge.
WND reported California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack
O'Connell, under whose supervision hundreds of thousands of
children are being educated, has used his state position and
taxpayer-funded stationery to praise a "gay" pride event used in
the past to expose children to sexually explicit activities.
That drew vehement objections from several educators, including
Priscilla Schreiber, the president of the Grossmont Unified High
School District governing board.
"I am outraged that a person in this high-ranking elected position
would advocate an event where diversity is not just being
celebrated but where pornography and indecent exposure is being
perpetrated on the young and innocent children of our
communities,"; she said.
