Community groups decry ‘homosexual indoctrination’ bill aimed at public schools

Sacramento, Calif., Aug 22, 2006 / 22:00 pm

The California Assembly passed a bill by a vote of 46-31 on Monday that says public schools may neither teach nor sponsor any activity that "reflects adversely" on anyone because of their sexual orientation, reported CNSNews.com.

Family groups say the proposed legislation (SB 1437) is “flawed” and encourages homosexual indoctrination in public schools.

“This bill is a misguided attempt to bias public school instruction and activities in favor of people engaged in homosexual, bisexual, and transgender behavior. The concept of the bill is flawed,” said Bill May of Catholics for the Common Good.

“SB 1437 also further undermines parents’ rights and responsibilities to educate their children according to their religious or moral beliefs regarding marriage, family, and sexuality,” May said.

The Campaign for Children and Families says the bill would alter school textbooks, instructional materials, and school-sponsored activities "to positively reference transsexuality, transvestitism, bisexuality, and homosexuality, including homosexual 'marriage,'" reported CNSNews.com.

Campaign for Children and Families president Randy Thomasson added that the bill “micromanages public schools by forcing them to promote a gaggle of sexual lifestyles that disturb parents and confuse kids.”

The lobby group is now urging like-minded citizens to contact Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and urge him to keep his promise to veto the bill.

During debate on Monday, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat, said he believes the bill would make schools "safer."

Republican Dennis Mountjoy of Monrovia argued that the bill would further turn public schools into "institutions of social experimentation," where the basics are ignored in favor of "social engineering," reported CNSNews.com.

The bill will not go back to the Senate, which is expected to approve it.