SB 48: California’s FAIR Education Act Is This Year’s Prop 8. Is It DOA?

SB 48, California’s FAIR Education Act, is this year’s Prop 8. You have absolutely no idea how incredibly organized the anti-gay hate groups are on this issue, and we will lose if and when it gets to the ballot box (and it will.) Don’t take my word for it. Take the word of the head of Equality California (EQCA), Executive Director Roland Palencia. “The prospects are not good if this gets to the ballot,” Palencia said. “I am not under any illusion.”

Why?

Because, just like with Prop 8, the anti-gay hate groups, and religious and faith-based groups have all teamed up against SB 48 and are organizing around hate and under the false guise of “protecting our children!”

Via the Bay Area Reporter:

Right now the anti-gay groups that spearheaded Proposition 8 are gathering signatures to get the SB 48 referendum on the ballot next year. They have until October 12 to collect 504,760 valid signatures. According to EQCA and its coalition partners, much of that work is currently taking place in churches – no surprise there – but the prospect of hired signature gatherers sprouting up outside big box stores in the final push is very real.

We noticed something on the EQCA conference call, which included coalition director Andrea Shorter and communications director Rebekah Orr: there’s no robust unified strategy to keep the referendum from qualifying or what to do if it does. There needs to be one message to meet the opposition. If we’ve learned nothing else from the Prop 8 fiasco, it’s that our side was disorganized, afraid, and timid.

Palencia later clarified his comments, but still maintains – correctly – that any ballot fight over SB 48, which would require public schools to include factual, age-appropriate information about the contributions of LGBT people and people with disabilities, will be extremely difficult. Orr acknowledged that the coalition has yet to find the “silver bullet” on overcoming the fear factor that the homophobes are quite adept at instilling in straight parents, especially mothers.

Yesterday, The New Civil Rights Movement showed you this video of a California Pastor evicting gays and lesbians from a church meeting about SB 48. He actually told them to exit the building. He also claimed, “this is not about us hating anyone or being homophobic or guilty of bigotry.” Yeah, right.

But that was just the result of sinister forces hard at work.

Forces like The Watchmen Ministry, who are actively working against SB 48. How actively? They’ve even produced a secret set of videos training pastors how to get enough ballots signed to put a referendum of SB 48 on the ballot. No, seriously. Secret videos on YouTube, but not listed so you can’t find them through ordinary means. “This video is unlisted. Only those with the link can see it,” it says, right at the top of the page.

And then there’s the head of the certified anti-gay hate group, Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins — who is extremely anti-​science — but actually has the temerity to claim that SB 48 will take time away from the teaching of science. Which is a lie, just like all the other lies he’s told about SB 48. Like, it’s expensive. In truth, it won’t cost the state a dime. Fortunately, EQCA is calling Perkins for what he is: a liar with ties to the KKK. Watch:

And then there’s Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills, California. Pastor Hibbs apparently has made it his mission to stamp out California’s FAIR Education Act, SB 48. He says,

“The indoctrination of our children regarding gay and lesbian, transgender lifestyles and practices as it relates to state history, as it relates to US history, and as it relates to our own economy… This new teaching, frankly, comes against the very ministry of Jesus Christ, the word of God, and you and I.”

“If we don’t stop it, this will be the indoctrination of our children, on our watch…There’s no opting out for your student, they must take this course, there’s no getting away from it.”

Watch:

And there’s Paulo Sibaja of the conservative “family” organization, Capitol Resource Institute. Back in July, GLSEN wrote, that “there are still some anti-LGBT activists who would like nothing more than to shove the LGBT Civil Rights Movement back into the closet.”

“Look no further than Paulo Sibaja, President of the socially conservative Capitol Resource Institute. CRI has recently submitted paperwork asking California voters to overturn the FAIR Education Act – a law passed by both Chambers of the California state legislature and signed by the Governor. Mr. Sibaja argues the FAIR Education Act “will teach children as young as five to not only accept but also endorse transgenderism, bisexuality, and homosexuality.” But you and I both know that nothing could be further from the truth! Much like teachers already do with the African-American Civil Rights Movement, and the Women’s Suffrage Movement, the FAIR Education Act ensures that students in California will be taught about the many contributions made to America by LGBT Americans such as Harvey Milk, James Baldwin, Virginia Woolf and Del Martin.”

And there’s right wing extremist Randy Thomasson, of the infamous group, Save California, who in May started, “Protect Your Children From Harvey Milk Gay Day In Schools.” Thomasson calls the FAIR Act “the most in-​your-​face sexual brainwashing yet.”

Thomasson writes, falsely,

“On July 14, 2011, Democrat Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 48 into law. This means that, beginning in January 2012, children as young as kindergarten in California K-12 government schools will be forced to admire “gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans” as their personal role models. It’s because SB 48 mandates that the unnatural and unhealthy lifestyles of both historical and contemporary persons who engaged or currently engage in homosexuality, bisexuality, or transsexuality be positively portrayed to impressionable children through “instruction in social sciences.” It’s the most in-your-face sexual brainwashing yet. And there’s no opportunity for parents to opt-out or opt-in their precious boys and girls.

“SB 48 is the EIGHTH SCHOOL SEXUAL INDOCTRINATION LAW on the books.”

Thomasson’s group adds,

RESCUE YOUR CHILD:
Parents, you only have one shot at raising your child. Don’t delay.
Click here to visit our website RescueYourChild.com where you will:

1) See all 10 reasons to rescue your children, plus understand the 8 bad laws
2) Learn how to afford a solid private school or church school
3) Discover how manageable, inexpensive and rewarding homeschooling can be

And includes a link to this flyer (image, partial, above.)

And, of course, there’s Stop SB 48 itself. One-stop anti-gay, anti-education, anti-fact shopping.

So, will SB 48, a law that merely is dedicated to telling the truth about the LGBT community, along with the African American community, the disabled, and other minorities, actually go into effect in January?

Was Prop 8 stopped? No.

Did Maine’s marriage equality law ever go into effect? No.

“The FAIR Education Act would ensure that LGBT people are included in instructional materials, which studies have shown is linked to greater student safety and lower rates of bullying,” writes Equality California. “The FAIR Education Act would require that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans are included and recognized for their important historical contributions to the economic, political, and social development of California. Specifically, this legislation would add LGBT to the existing list of underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups, which are covered by current law related to inclusion in textbooks and other instructional materials in schools. This inclusion will help to ensure that students get a fair and accurate picture of the people and events that have shaped our society, and that fair and accurate portrayals of LGBT people are no longer” excluded from classroom discussions. The FAIR Education Act will bring classroom instruction into alignment with non– discrimination laws passed by the California Legislature and adopted by the State Board of Education a decade ago, by prohibiting the adoption of discriminatory instructional materials and textbooks.”

Right now, it’s up to you. Don’t let it be up to the Tony Perkins, Randy Thomassons, and Paulo Sibajas of this world.