California Family Minute

March 23, 2011

Getting into the Game!

This morning the Senate Education Committee will heard and discussed Senate Bill (SB) 48.  Authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), SB 48’s stated purpose is to mandate that California’s social science curriculum include the contributions of homosexuals to contemporary society, including bisexuals and transsexuals. 

However, no social science curriculum should be created based on a mandated quota system of various groups.  SB 48 mandates the inclusion of the roles of “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.”  Doesn’t this mandate seem to place the priority on one’s sexual identity, rather than on their contribution?

Here is some good news: CFC has received feedback from several people who have made phone calls to members of the Senate Education Committee.  These callers report that representatives are receiving many more requests for “no” votes than for votes to approve the bill. 

In addition, of those organizations and individuals who sent letters requesting “yes” or “no” votes of the education committee, the opposition to SB 48 far outnumbers those in support.  Add to this the number of you who phoned, faxed, e-mailed, sent personalized communications to the individual committee members, and visited district offices, and we may be seeing a sea change in the activity of our grassroots networks.

And here’s the kicker: churches sent letters asking for a “no” vote!  You heard me right.  Because these churches consist of families – and families’ neighbors – whose children and grandchildren participate in the public education system, church leadership has stepped into the cultural fray.  Be of good cheer, as churches have every legal right to do this!    

No one should deny – based on sexual orientation – the mention of a person’s significant contributions to society.  However, never before in social science textbooks has sexual orientation, of any kind, been a mandated factor by which to select contributors, nor has law mandated the mention of a contributor’s sexual orientation.

Senate Bill 48, if passed, would place decisions regarding age-appropriateness of content and issues of academic accuracy outside the awareness of parents, who are primarily responsible for the welfare of their children.

The underlying impact of SB 48’s passage would be the continued advancement of a pro-homosexual worldview in the public classroom, and the marginalization of all worldviews that conflict with such a view. 

To all of you, including churches, that communicated your opinion on SB 48 to the Senate Education Committee’s members, thank you!

Sincerely,
Ron Prentice
Chief Executive Officer