(Name-mce) ListServ SFGate: SACRAMENTO/Bill expanding gay rights in public school curriculum watered down/Measure is limited to ban negativity on sexual orientation

[Paul C. Gorski]

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Tuesday, August 8, 2006 (SF Chronicle)
SACRAMENTO/Bill expanding gay rights in public school curriculum watered down/Measure is limited to ban negativity on sexual orientation
Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau


   (08-08) 04:00 PDT Sacramento -- In a bid for a gubernatorial signature,
legislation that would have required public school instructional materials
to include the contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
people was scaled back Monday to simply prohibit teaching or textbooks
that negatively portray persons based on their sexual orientation.
   In May, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the "Legislature should not
micromanage curriculum" and vowed to veto the bill if it reached his desk.
Critics said his decision was spawned by re-election jitters over angering
conservative Republican voters.
   "All that's left in the bill now is adding sexual orientation to a
long-standing law that prohibits the adoption of official teaching
materials or the conducting of school activities that reflect adversely on
people on the basis of race, religion, gender and so on," said the bill's
author Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica.
   "We took out the section of the bill the governor said would 'micromanage'
curriculum because I would like to get his signature on something so we
can help students this year," said Kuehl, the first openly lesbian member
of the Legislature.
   The textbook measure, SB1437, generated intense debate among lawmakers as
it moved through the Senate. It is awaiting action in the Assembly where
the amendments to weaken the bill were approved Monday.
   Criticism of the measure from groups opposing expansion of gay rights was
intense. Opponents argued including the contributions of gays and lesbian
in textbooks would promote homosexuality.
   Supporters countered that textbooks should include the contributions of
gays and lesbians just as they are required to contain those of other
minority groups.
   The bill now would prohibit teachers and textbooks to "reflect adversely"
on persons based on sexual orientation. For more than 30 years, textbooks
and teachers have been prohibited from negative portrayals of persons
based on various characteristics such as ethnicity, gender, nationality or
religion.
   "While this is not everything we believe needs to be done to address the
problem it is still a very important affirmative step to protect kids,"
said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, the bill's
chief backer.

   Kuehl's elimination of the mandate on including the contributions of gays
and lesbians in textbooks did not win over opponents of her bill.
   "(This bill) still requires all teachers, all textbooks and all
instructional materials to positively portray cross-dressing, sex change
operations, bisexuality and homosexuality," said Randy Thomason, president
of Campaign for Children and Families.
   It's also not clear if the changes will win over the governor.
   But Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson cautioned that "the
governor will not sign a bill that micromanages curriculum. That is better
left with the State Board of Education."

   E-mail Greg Lucas at glucas at sfchronicle.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2006 SF Chronicle