(Name-mce) ListServ Governor vetoes gay teaching measure

[Villanueva Anselmo]

Governor vetoes gay teaching measure 
He says current laws guard against discrimination

 

Greg Lucas, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau <mailto:glucas at sfchronicle.com> 

 

Thursday, September 7, 2006

 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/07/BAG7FL0HHR1.
DTL&hw=schwarzenegger+gay&sn=001&sc=1000

 

 

 

*                                  

*                                  

 

(09-07) 04:00 PDT Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill
Wednesday that would have prohibited teaching or textbooks that
negatively portray people based on sexual orientation, saying existing
law already contains protections against discrimination. 

The Republican governor's veto was not unexpected. He said he would
reject the bill in its initial form when it required textbooks to
include the political and cultural contributions of gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people. 

"This bill attempts to offer vague protection when current law already
provides clear protection against discrimination in our schools based on
sexual orientation," Schwarzenegger said in his veto message. 

The governor's action heartened groups who oppose the expansion of gay
rights and angered those who advocate that prohibitions on
discrimination based on sexual orientation should be as strong as those
based on race, gender or religion. 

"The only opposition to the bill were the extremist, anti-gay
organizations. The only rationale for his veto is to appease right-wing
voters," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, the
measure's sponsor. "Even if he thinks this new protection wouldn't add
much, why leave one group off an anti-discrimination list that covers
every other group?" 

The measure by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, was a lightning
rod for advocates and opponents of gay rights. It spawned protests and
often rancorous debates when it moved through the Legislature. 

"Thousands of Californians called, e-mailed and wrote letters to the
governor urging him to veto this bill," said Meredith Turney,
legislative liaison for Capitol Resource Institute, an opponent of the
bill. "The governor heard their protests and vetoed a bill that
seriously infringed on students' religious freedom." 

When sent to Schwarzenegger, SB1437 prohibited teaching and textbooks
that "reflect adversely" on persons based on sexual orientation. Since
1965, teachers and textbooks have been prohibited from negative
portrayals of persons based on various characteristics such as
ethnicity, gender or nationality. 

Schwarzenegger said existing law already bans discrimination of pupils
based on sex, ethnic group, national origin, religion, disability and
sexual orientation. 

Coincidentally, it was a bill by Kuehl -- the first lesbian elected to
the Legislature -- which added sexual orientation to that list in 1999. 

Kuehl said the governor was wrong in claiming existing law prevents
negative images of gays in teaching or textbooks. 

"The governor is erroneous in his veto message in claiming students are
protected from this kind of discrimination," Kuehl said. "The sections
of the law he cites relate to school activities and programs. A separate
section covers textbooks and instructional materials. And those
protections don't exist there." 

Originally, Kuehl's bill prohibited schools from using instructional
materials that did not include the cultural, political and economic
contributions of gays. 

Without first telling Kuehl, Schwarzenegger publicly announced in May he
would veto her bill. In response, Kuehl scaled down the measure,
removing the textbook mandate. 

Opponents of Kuehl's bill weren't satisfied by Schwarzenegger's veto
Wednesday. They have targeted two other "sexual indoctrination" measures
that require vetoes. 

One would require the state superintendent of public instruction to
create a state policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on
"actual or perceived gender identity" and sexual orientation. 

The measure -- AB606 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys -- has been
linked to Kuehl's bill by opponents. The third measure -- AB1056 by
Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park (Los Angeles County) --
establishes a "Tolerance Education Pilot Program" in 10 schools. Critics
contend the schools would become "sexual indoctrination centers" because
tolerance, as defined by the bill, would have to be extended to groups,
like gays, who have historically been marginalized. 

"Moms and Dads and grandparents want a consistent governor, not a
flip-flopping governor," said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign
for Children and Families. "If the governor signs any of these
indoctrination bills, he will be abandoned by moral conservatives." 

Schwarzenegger's veto could, however, lead to his signature on
less-controversial measures relating to gays. 

Supportive of domestic partnerships, the governor might be more likely
to sign a measure allowing domestic partners who register with the state
to file their personal income tax returns jointly. 

Although registered domestic partnerships enjoy nearly all other rights
of married couples, they can only file separate state tax returns. A
spokeswoman said Schwarzenegger had no position on the bill, SB1827 by
state Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco. 

"It would be shocking for him to veto a tax-relief bill for domestic
partners when he says same-sex couples should be treated equally," Kors
said. 

E-mail Greg Lucas at glucas at sfchronicle.com. 

Page B - 4