Schwarzenegger vetoes pro-homosexuality bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill Sept. 6 that conservatives say would have prevented schools from providing any material as a counterpoint to homosexuality. The bill, SB 1437, would have prohibited teachers, school districts, textbooks and instructional materials from presenting anything that “reflects adversely upon persons” because of their “sexual orientation.” The bill also would have prohibited instructional materials containing “sectarian or denominational doctrine or propaganda” regarding homosexuality. Presumably that would have prevented materials from saying that homosexuality is anything but natural.

A section of the bill requiring the teaching of “gay history” was stripped earlier in hopes of making the bill less controversial and more acceptable for Schwarzenegger. But he vetoed the bill and in a statement said California law “already specifically protects against discrimination to groups based on their sexual orientation.”  (TAB)