Overturn California Gay History Law? Conservatives Move To Repeal SB 48
Paulo Sibaja of the conservative “family” organization, Capitol Resource Institute, has begun a push to overturn the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act, aka SB 48, the law signed by California Governor Jerry Brown this week, that will ensure the contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and disabled Americans are properly taught in California schools.
The FAIR Act “[a]dds lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans, persons with disabilities and others to the list of groups of people whose role and contributions shall be accurately portrayed in instructional materials and included in social science instruction, and adds sexual orientation and religion to the list of characteristics that shall not be reflected adversely in adopted instructional materials.â€
Right wing extremist Randy Thomasson, who in May started, “Protect Your Children From Harvey Milk Gay Day In Schools,” calls the FAIR Act “the most in-your-face sexual brainwashing yet.”
Senator Mark Leno, the bill’s sponsor, said, “We should not be afraid to teach our children of the broad diversity of human experience. It’s not going away, it’s always been with us. We have different kinds of people, who are, under law, to be treated equally. Why would we not want to teach our children this?â€
In response to news the law will be challenged, Leno said, “I think it will be a challenge for them to get the signatures,” adding, “If they succeed in that, I bet Californians” reject it, he added, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which also reported today,
“The Capitol Resource Institute is a hard-line, socially conservative organization that has long opposed efforts in California to expand rights for the LGBT population. Backers eventually would have to collect 433,971 signatures to allow voters to decide whether to keep the law in place or reject it.
“Sibaja said that a coalition has formed behind the proposed measure, though he would not name the other members. He said a news conference Wednesday would give more details.”

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |