Cal Passes Student Civil Rights Act

California legislators have approved a bill called the "Student Civil Rights Act" to protect all California students from harassment and bias in public schools based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. A similar bill was passed last year but vetoed by Gov. Schwartzenegger. Of course, the right-wing is going apoplectic (see graphic), claiming that gay sex will now be "taught" to 6 year-olds.

The Campaign For Families and Children rants: "SB 777 requires textbooks, instructional materials and school-sponsored activities to positively portray cross-dressing, sex-change operations, homosexual 'marriages' and all aspects of homosexuality and bisexuality, including so-called 'gay history. Silence on these sexual lifestyles will not be allowed. Parents don't want their children taught to become homosexual or bisexual or to wonder whether they need a sex-change operation. SB 777 will shatter the academic purpose of education by turning every government school into a sexual indoctrination center."

WingNutDaily claims:"[The bill] could be used to ban the words "dad" or "mom" in all public schools as being discriminatory against "partner 1"' and "partner 2" in same-sex relationships."

Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California responds: "SB 777 creates uniform nondiscrimination standards within the state's education code and clarifies the responsibility of school officials to ensure a safe learning environment. Inconsistencies in state law create significant gaps that leave students vulnerable to harassment and bias and unaware of their rights. SB 777 helps fill those gaps so that all youth are protected. Right wing extremists have recently attacked this bill and grossly distorted what the legislation does. The Student Civil Rights Act protects all youth not only those who identify as LGBT, from discrimination so they all have the opportunity to succeed in school and thrive in life."

SB 777 author (and out lesbian) Sen. Sheila Kuehl says, "Seven years after legislation protecting students from discrimination and harassment in all public school settings took effect, our young people are still being subjected to violence and ridicule on a daily basis in the classroom and in the school yard. We simply have to do better in protecting our students, and SB 777 is an important part of the solution."

Schwartenzegger is expected to veto the bill.