I wasn’t the one quoted, but here is one such promotion in California, SB 1437:
savecalifornia.com/getactive/sb1437analysis.php?PHPSESSID=89ea5dbcc5b0c65014def604b581c638
As amended, here is what SB 1437 will do:
*1. SB 1437 will force all California public schools to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality to schoolchildren as young as kindergarten. *
*2. SB 1437 will require textbooks to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality to schoolchildren. *
3. SB 1437 prohibits schools from sponsoring traditional school activities.
*4. SB 1437 prohibits public schools from teaching there is a natural family – a father, a mother, and their children. *
For one thing, this bill was vetoed over two years ago. For another, it is incorectly represented. In my experience, scare tactics designed to appeal to the emotions rather than the brain, such as the ones used above, tend to obscure if not completely mispepresent the news item(s) they are referring to.
Here’s what the VETOED bill was desinged to do, from the mouth of the designer:
209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:Tn0ZM5ZVL-EJ:www.gsanetwork.org/qyad/SB1437Q%26A.doc+california+sb+1437&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=16&gl=us
Questions and Answers
Question: What does SB 1437 do?
Answer: SB 1437 would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in California textbooks and school-sponsored activities, by adding these categories to an existing nondiscrimination law. SB 1437 would also mandate that the state curriculum include a discussion of the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to the history and development of California, as is currently required for other minority groups.
**Question: Why is SB 1437 necessary? **
*Answer: Biased or nonexistent representations of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people promote negative stereotypes and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. A bias-free and inclusive curriculum is important to the ongoing effort to make California schools safe for all children. Studies show that schools in which LGBT issues are reflected in the curriculum produce positive results for all youth: students report greater feelings of safety and more positive interactions with teachers. *
**Question: Does SB 1437 require that references to “husband and wife,” “mom and dad,” or “the family unit” be removed from California textbooks? **
*Answer: No, SB 1437 does not disparage heterosexual people or families with heterosexual parents. By adding sexual orientation and gender identity to nondiscrimination policies regarding instructional materials, SB 1437 prevents negative portrayals of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The bill does not prevent discussion of the many contributions of heterosexual people and families to California history, it simply ensures that the curriculum also include a discussion of the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to the state. *
**Question: Would SB 1437 prevent students from naming a “king and queen” at school dances such as prom? **
*Answer: No, nothing in SB 1437 would prevent students from voting a prom king and queen. SB 1437 would only ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, and students who are part of same-sex couples, be allowed to buy tickets for, attend, and fully participate in school dances the same way that their classmates can. All youth deserve the chance to partake in school traditions like prom and homecoming, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity. *
**Question: If passed, would SB 1437 require school districts to immediately replace all current curriculum? **
*Answer: No, SB 1437 would simply expand bias protections that curricula must meet when being adopted by the State Board of Education and local school districts. Thus, curricula would be revised through a gradual process as schools replace textbooks through the regular textbook adoption cycle. Only then would compliance be required. *
**Question: Does this bill require that students learn about historical figures’ sex lives? **
*Answer: SB 1437 would not mandate discussion of any historical figures’ sex lives. A person’s sexual orientation and gender identity are identity characteristics, not sexual behaviors. The sex lives of historical lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people would not be taught, any more than the curriculum currently discusses the sexual lives of heterosexual historical figures. The bill simply ensures a fair representation of California’s historical and contemporary diversity, by acknowledging that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have made valuable contributions to the state’s rich history. *
:clapping:
