Gay history bill goes to Calif. governor

Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, the first openly gay Speaker of the California State Assembly. / AP

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California lawmakers on Tuesday sent the governor a bill that would make the state the first requiring public schools to include the contributions of gays and lesbians in social studies curriculum.

The bill, passed on a party-line vote, adds lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as well as people with disabilities to the list of groups that schools must include in the lessons. It also would prohibit material that reflects adversely on gays.

Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco says SB48 is crucial because of the bullying that happens to gay students. Republicans called it a well-intentioned but ill-conceived bill and raised concerns that it would indoctrinate children to accept homosexuality.

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"This bill will require California schools to present a more accurate and nuanced view of American history in our social science curriculum by recognizing the accomplishments of groups that are not often recognized," said Assembly Speaker John Perez, the first openly gay speaker of the California Assembly.

The bill now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, who has not said whether he would sign it. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill in 2006.

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a Republican from Twin Peaks, said he was offended as a Christian that the bill was being used to promote a "homosexual agenda" in public schools.

"I think it's one thing to say that we should be tolerant," Donnelly said. "It is something else altogether to say that my children are going to be taught that this lifestyle is good."

California law already requires schools to teach about women, African Americans, Mexican Americans, entrepreneurs, Asian Americans, European Americans, American Indians and labor. The Legislature over the years also has prescribed specific lessons about the Irish potato famine and the Holocaust, among other topics.

SB48 would require, as soon as the 2013-2014 school year, the California Board of Education and local school districts to adopt textbooks and other teaching materials that cover the contributions and roles of sexual minorities.

The legislation leaves it to local school boards to decide how to implement the requirement. It does not specify a grade level for the instruction to begin.

Opponents argued that such instruction would further burden an already crowded curriculum and expose students to a subject that some parents find objectionable. Assemblyman Chris Norby, R-Fullerton, said the bill micromanages the classroom.

"Our founding fathers are turning over in their graves," Donnelly said.

The bill's author, Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, said he hopes Brown will sign his bill. He dismissed arguments that the bill promotes certain sexual behaviors and said it removes censorship in textbooks.

"Bottom line, it's only beneficial to share with students the broad diversity of the human experience and that our democracy protects everyone," he said.

Before the Assembly vote, Perez pointed to a few contributions of gay people, including Friedrich von Steuben, one of George Washington's military advisers who fled Prussia after he was hounded as a homosexual.

Von Steuben is credited with being one of the fathers of the Continental Army and teaching essential military drills.

He also cited Alan Turing, a mathematician who helped crack Nazi Germany's secret codes by creating the "Turing bombe," a forerunner of modern computers.

Some churches and conservative family groups warned the bill will drive more parents to take their children out of public schools.

"This sexual brainwashing bill would mandate that children as young as 6 years old be told falsehoods — that homosexuality is biological, when it isn't, or healthy, when it's not," said Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com.

The Assembly passed the bill on a 49-25 vote.

[dave05jr]

Whatever happened to American's contributions to their country Why must a bunch of queers insist they get some type of preferential treatment as gays? we are all Americans,lesbian ,gay straight etc This; pardon the pun feels like one type of citizen shoving something nasty down everyone els's throat which is tantamount to declaring a superior position that demands some type of attention.

[jemutschler]

If I'm reading this correctly, the accomplishments of Friedrich von Steuben and Alan Turing are already known. The only thing that wasn't previously reported was that they were homosexual. I don't see how that adds to the story and by the way, I don't see George Washington identified here as heterosexual. People need to seriously get a grip on reality!!

[ky1946]

adrenalin666 :
all have sinned and come short of the glory of god.
No one sin is greater than another. We fall short as human beings, all guilty, only the grace of god forgives all. God loves gays and all sinners.

[ky1946]

Me thinks you protest too much.
We might as well include the contributions of drug users as a qualification to greatest.
Many of the best authors, poets, and composers used 'enhancement' compounds to help in their creativity.
'Confessions of an english opium eater' come to mind.

[simiskin]

It is not wrong to be gay, since it is a birth defect. However, it should not be promoted or given special preferences / treatments.
If you are gay, so be it and I believe that ordinary people will accept of who you are because of a birth defect.

[Quiet_R_Bear]

Being gay has yet to be proven scientifically to have anything to do with birth or genetics.

[expatriate2]

Education in the United States ranks 18th of the 36 industrialized nations of the world. This 4th of July, most young people could not give the date of the Declaration of Independence or tell from what country the U.S. gained its independence.
Now we are beginning to see why. We are truly leaving all children behind and federal regulation of education was not and is not the solution. Teachers must be better prepared and curriculums designed to have students graduating with sufficient knowledge to compete in society and its workplace.

[expatriate2]

While the thrust of general education has long been to teach that differences and preferences are not important when evaluating human achievement, we now learn that it will be reversed and it becomes a noteable factor. Can anyone understand this?

[PLS8395]

Friedrich von Steuben was chased out of Prussia for being a pedophile, not because he was gay. He was helpful to the Continental Army until his fondness for hurting little boys was discovered. Further, von Steuben lied to Washington regarding his military rank. Let's teach our children about the important contributions of lying pedophiles to American history while we're at it!

[Uncle_Eccoli]

I heard Ohio is enacting a law requiring all schools to teach the history of guys from Akron named Earl.

[billpl-2009]

since being gay is not a ethnic group, not a disease, not a social disorder, not a scientific fact, but rather a personal belief and lifestyle practice, sounds more like a religion

...that's not allowed in schools

kidding aside

history like science.....should be about history
free of all social agendas