PTA endorses demand to show 'gays' positively

PTA endorses demand to show 'gays' positively
Supports law banning content reflecting adversely on homosexuality

The California PTA, which boasts of speaking "for every child," has endorsed the homosexual indoctrination plan assembled by the state Legislature that could be used to ban even the words "mom" and "dad."

"The California State PTA supports SB 777 (Kuehl), which would revise the current list of prohibited bases of discrimination and the kinds of prohibited instruction, activities and instructional materials in the Education Code…," said a letter submitted to the state Assembly on behalf of the state PTA.

As WND has reported, the plan passed the state Assembly on a 43-23 vote and it now moves forward to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has 30 days to sign it or veto it.

A year ago he vetoed another similar plan, SB1437, noting at that time, adequate legal protections against discrimination already existed.

The new plan bans any teaching or activities in schools involving a "discriminatory bias" against homosexuals, transgenders or bisexuals. Karen England, the executive director of Capitol Resource Family Impact, a new affiliate of Capitol Resource Institute, said the essence of SB 777 is that it seeks to normalize alternative lifestyles in California schools with special recognition for homosexuality, bisexuality, and transexuality.

Could it affect even the words "mom" and "dad?" If they are perceived as being discriminatory against "partner 1" and "partner 2" in same-sex relationships, observers said.

Paul Richman, the executive director of the California PTA, declined to explain how the organization decides to endorse or oppose such legislation, saying the organization's legislative director would have to explain the process. But WND messages requesting that explanation were not returned.

The PTA letter, submitted by Debbie Look, identified as a legislative advocate for the organization, said SB 777 would set up requirements based on "protected characteristics contained in the definition of hate crimes in the Penal Code.

"The California State PTA supports equal rights for all. We believe all children and youth should have equal opportunities to develop and reach their maximum potential," the letter continued. "We also believe that every child is entitled to a safe and positive school climate that provides for the emotional safety of the students, supports and recognizes each person's efforts to achieve his/her full potential; and provides the social and cultural acceptance every individual needs of high self-esteem."

The letter doesn't address how children whose parents are instilling in them a traditional biblical worldview including a perspective that homosexuality is a sin would be supported positively in a climate that would ban any expression of their beliefs.

England, who noted that the California Teachers Association has issued a similar statement of support, said parents expect teachers to be their allies in educating their children.

However, she said parents shouldn't be looking for help from these two organizations.

"This astonishing legislation would ban any teaching or activities in schools that 'promote a discriminatory bias' against homosexuals, transgenders, bisexuals, and those with gender … issues," her organization's statement said.

The statement said, "The CTA and PTA supposedly speak on behalf of the thousands of teachers and parents involved in their respective organizations. However, very few of their members know of the subversive legislation supported by these groups. SB 777 seeks to normalize alternative lifestyles in California schools… It is doubtful that the members of the CTA or PTA would support such extremist policies in their local schools, let along the entire state."

The organization said the ramifications of the legislation already can be seen in Los Angeles, where the district previously adopted some of the policies now being set up for statewide implementation.

"In this policy, teachers are instructed to keep a student's transgender status private, including from the student's parents. … This is an appalling school policy – treating parents as the enemy, at the expense of the student's relationship with family."

England noted that even more alarming is the policy of providing access to restroom and locker facilities that "correspond to the gender identity that the student consistently asserts…"

"If a male student 'consistently asserts' himself as a female at school, he will be granted access to female restrooms and locker rooms. As teachers and school officials grow accustomed to seeing boys entering female-only areas, they will be less likely to intervene for fear of offending a transgender student. Those with evil intentions will then gain access to innocent girls in otherwise safe environments. This poses a serious danger to the safety of young female students."

The CTA letter noted the organization's whole-hearted support for prohibiting discrimination based on disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and "any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes contained in the Penal Code."

The group said no one should be deprived of "rights enjoyed by others" because of their sexual orientation.

"Will Christian students be accepted for their beliefs? Will Mormon or Muslim students' self-esteem increase if they express their opinions regarding homosexuality and are told they are 'bigoted'?" England asked."

Randy Thomasson of the Campaign for Children and Families said the solution now is for parents to lobby Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for a veto.

He noted that in schools, for all practical purposes, "silence on these sexual lifestyles will simply not be permitted."

"Kindergartners and first-graders learning about transsexuality, bisexuality and homosexuality from their teachers? This is not what parents want or children need," he said.

The proposal goes so far as to redefine sex. In no longer is "the biological condition or quality of being male or female." Now it's, "'Gender' means sex, and includes a person's gender identity and gender related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth."

The new mandate would be enforced by the attorneys of the California Department of Education, which would sue school districts that don't comply, Thomasson noted.

England earlier warned of the ramifications nationwide, including a tailoring of textbooks by publishers to meet new censorship requirements in California, the largest purchaser of textbooks in the nation.

No matter how traditional a community may be, school officials would find themselves faced with the same religious, moral and social biases instituted in California reflected in their textbooks, she warned.

As WND reported, a board member for the homosexual advocacy group Equality California verbally attacked and threatened CRI for its opposition to the bill earlier.

The board member sent an e-mail and video to CRI threatening the group would be buried if it continued efforts opposing the homosexual advocacy.

"The shocking hate mail we received shows that those behind this legislation do not promote true tolerance," said England. "Only politically correct speech will be tolerated. Those with religious or traditional moral beliefs will not be allowed to express their opinions in public schools."

She also cited an informational document published by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network and the Transgender Law Center that already is lobbying for special treatment in the school system.

"If you want to use a restroom that matches your gender identity … you should be allowed to do so," it advises. "Whenever students are divided up into boys and girls, you should be allowed to join the group or participate in the program that matches your gender identity as much as possible."

Further, the groups advise, "If you change your name to one that better matches your gender identity, a school needs to use that name to refer to you."

WND has documented a number of earlier cases in which educators, including leaders in California, have taken it upon themselves to promote a homosexual lifestyle to children under their charge.

WND reported California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, under whose supervision hundreds of thousands of children are being educated, has used his state position and taxpayer-funded stationery to praise a "gay" pride event used in the past to expose children to sexually explicit activities.

That drew vehement objections from several educators, including Priscilla Schreiber, the president of the Grossmont Unified High School District governing board.

"I am outraged that a person in this high-ranking elected position would advocate an event where diversity is not just being celebrated but where pornography and indecent exposure is being perpetrated on the young and innocent children of our communities," she said.

WND also covered the issue when officials in Boulder, Colo., held a seminar for students in which they were told to "have sex," including same-sex experiences, and "take drugs."

Another school event promoted homosexuality to students while banning parents, and at still another, WND reported school officials ordered their 14-year-old freshman class into a "gay" indoctrination seminar after having them sign a confidentiality agreement promising not to tell their parents.