Posted on 09/06/2006 12:56:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill Wednesday that would have barred textbooks from using language that would be discriminatory to gays, saying the state's education laws already prevent discrimination.
The bill's author, state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, called the veto "inexplicable."
Kuehl's bill initially would have required California's social science textbooks to include the historical contributions of homosexuals, but the state Assembly amended it at her request in an effort to avoid a veto from the Republican governor.
The final version of SB 1437 would have prohibited any negative portrayal of homosexuals in textbooks and other instructional material, expanding current anti-discrimination laws that apply to minorities.
But in a veto message, Schwarzenegger said California's education code already prohibits discrimination in schools and says everyone is entitled to "equal rights and opportunities in our state educational institutions, regardless of their sex, ethnic group, race, national origin, religion, disability and sexual orientation."
"I and this administration are firmly committed to the vigorous enforcement of these protections," he said.
Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, expressed frustration over the veto and said she had explicitly changed the legislation to address the governor's opposition.
"I an extremely disappointed that the governor chose to respond to a small, shrill group of right-wing extremists rather than a fair-minded majority of Californians who support this reasonable measure," she said in a statement.
Kuehl said lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students are still vulnerable to discrimination in instructional materials and school activities.
Schwarzenegger said the bill barred any materials or activities that "reflect adversely" on people, which was vague and potentially confusing. He said it "would not strengthen this important area of legal protection from bias based on sexual orientation."
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On the Net: Read the bill at http://www.senate.ca.gov
Are the textbooks, stories and novels exclusively heterosexual in perspective?
I imagine the hostility that exists is among peers rather than within the classroom material in public schools.
Had to mark this post, it may never happen again! ;)
Do you interpret that as meaning non-existence after earthly demise? If so, that probably fancies many unfortunately atheist homosexuals just fine.
Ahem... I think I'll quietly follow suit!!!
Of course, but that is not what's implied by her statement.
As far as hostility from peers, there is no need to create protected classes. Set a high standard of behavior for ALL students (regardless of race, gender, etc etc), and hold them to it.
As far as the material being exclusively heterosexual, the books most often have nothing to do with sexuality, as is appropriate. I don't read Huckleberry Finn, for example, for it's perspective on sex.
Nor do I want the State deciding that my first grader is required to read "Prince and Prince" or "Heather Has Two Mommies". That is WAY out of line.
I have the old fashioned notion that private life is just that, private.
1) Praise and reward desired behavior.
2) Introduce negative consequences for undersireable behavior.
Calcowgirl did good. Praised the desired behavior and implied further reward if the desired behavior was repeated.
She can have a job training California's Democrat Dingos or Austrian Pinscher any day she wishes
It's happened before, and I hope it happens a lot in the future... but that will be based on the actions of the Governor. Positive actions get praise, negative actictions get criticism. There are a whole slew more GLBT bills to veto, as I listed. And then there is that other horrendous legislation: Single-Payer Healthcare, Global Warming, Minimum Wage, Electoral College Compacts, Drivers Licenses for Illegals, etc... I'll anxiously await vetoes!
LOL. Thanks -- I think. :-)
I agree the odds of him doing a good job on anything are diminishing every day. This is indeed a rare fluke.
Some of our resident Log Cabin representatives must believe that vetoing one GLBT bill deserves grand praise from conservatives and that all others should be accepted as law without objection. They won't acknowledge that it is the record that counts--as measured against the GOP Platform, NOT Angelides.
I do hope he vetos some more of the destructive legislation, but seeing as he sponsored much of it, I won't hold my breath.
Yay for the Gov!!!
Yay for the Gov!!!
I didn't think the Bible was a public school textbook? I'm guessing this ruling covers religious schools?
So the textbooks say something like..
'Senator Fred Jones, formerly Freida Jones, won a silver metal in the Gay Olympics. The metal was for synchronized swimming.
He is an advocate for removing pay toilets in bus station restrooms.'
Is sexual orientation brought up in the textbooks?
No, they don't mention sexual orientation at all.
At least not in English, History, and Science.
They might at some point in High School, but most likely in the Health class series.
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