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New gay bill causing a stir among some Christians

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Some sectors of the religious community have been in an uproar since Gov. Jerry Brown approved SB 48, otherwise known as the California Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act.

The new law, which was passed on July 14 this year, amends “the Education Code to include social sciences instruction on the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.”

The bill was originally proposed by Mark Leno of San Francisco, an openly gay Democratic senator.

“Most textbooks don’t include any historical information about the LGBT movement, which has great significance to both California and U.S. history,” he said last year. “Our collective silence on this issue perpetuates negative stereotypes of LGBT people and leads to increased bullying of young people. We can’t simultaneously tell youth that it’s OK to be yourself and live an honest, open life when we aren’t even teaching students about historical LGBT figures or the LGBT equal rights movement.”

Despite Leno’s efforts, opposition is heavy and the religious community is not backing down.

Pastor Xavier Thompson of Southern Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, is leading a coalition of religious leaders in the community across denominational and racial lines to fight for what they believe is an injustice and obstruction to morality.

The group is petitioning the community to come together on the issue and repeal the law and give voters the power to make their opinions known.

“Gov. Jerry Brown considered (passage of the bill), a step forward. I think it is a step backward as it relates to our children and the moral fabric of our society,” the preacher commented. “It’s a step backward because when you begin to legislate such issues as they relate to LGBT and gay history, you ask yourself, what’s next?

“Politicians should deal with politics. We have educators and scholars who should be responsible for the curriculum for our children … You can’t take prayer out of schools and replace it with mandatory LGBT curriculum.”

But the LGBT community is adamant about gay education, because many believe that it will prevent bullying and give gay students the support they want and need.

“We’ve seen it over and over; LGBT youth are harassed and bullied in schools at the hands of those whose fear and hate stems from ignorance about LGBT people,” said Lorri Jean, CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. “The FAIR Education Act will help to change this dynamic.”

She continued: “Accurate history lessons are a key component of creating safe school environments for all kids, especially those who may be or seem different from the majority. As has been true with the leaders of many oppressed groups, the great LGBT trailblazers of the past have been inexcusably closeted by our history books. When all students learn about the accomplishments of such notable figures as Bayard Rustin, Barbara Jordan, Alexander the Great, Tennessee Williams, Walt Whitman, Gertrude Stein, Harvey Milk, Billie Jean King and so many others, they will have a more complete understanding of the vibrant diversity of the human race. They will be better prepared to succeed in a society that includes everyone.”

While the LGBT community claims the new law could reduce the amount of bullying, suicide and other social issues children face due to homophobia, Thompson says the law has the potential to make matters worse.

“I think it possibly will muddy the waters more,” he said. “I think our children have enough to contend with to confuse them in this society. If the LGBT curriculum does stand, it will be another issue that our children have to deal with … I think it could possibly cause the bullying aspect and the bigotry and the hatred in the community to escalate,” he said.

He said introducing homosexuality as part of history may entice children to explore their sexuality and further impress hatred upon students who have a bias against homosexuality.

Thompson added that kids from all different creeds, races and backgrounds are bullied, saying there are laws against assault in schools no matter the person’s race, sex, or sexual orientation.

Jean also stated in a letter that the center is working with the Los Angeles Unified School District to help ensure “schools are safe and welcoming for today’s young LGBT people.”

In an article she wrote in the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s monthly newsletter, Vanguard, she said the conservative backlash is expected.

“The law they want to repeal requires that the historic contributions of LGBT people be included in history classes. All it demands is teaching the truth. Nothing more. But being honest about the diversity in our society frightens small-minded people. Not only do they want to deny us our basic civil rights, they want to make us invisible. They want to stop the truth of our lives from being told.”

She claimed that the “lies have already begun” and the anti-gay camps are using scare tactics to make people believe their children are in danger.

“What’s really sinful is their waste of precious resources on such a fight,” she wrote. “If they really cared about kids, they’d be spending that money on things to actually help them, like food or clothing or books or keeping kids safe from bullying and harassment in their schools. Sadly, the real driving force behind this effort is bigotry; impure and simple.”

But while the LGBT community says it is a civil rights issue and a matter of inclusion, Thompson and his coalition of ministers disagree.

“I think it’s the height of absurdity; it’s ludicrous preposterous to say the least. It is not a civil rights issue. It is a moral issue. Civil rights issues [are about things] beyond our control. We are dealing with the cards that are dealt for us. I do not have a choice relative to the color of my skin. I do not have choice that they took my forefathers from Africa and brought us to where we are. We didn’t have a choice as it relates to that. You do have a choice for the lifestyle that you live. And I think the civil rights argument that the LGBT community makes, I disagree with that … I believe it is a moral issue, a lifestyle of choice.”

He concluded that while he is sensitive to those who struggle with homosexuality and that he loves his gay and lesbian “brothers and sisters,” the issue of homosexuality is a trait that can be changed and is like all other sins.

A city wide prayer meeting will be held to address the issue on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Southern Missionary Baptist Church, 4678 W. Adams Blvd. in Los Angeles.

For more information on the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, call at (323) 993-7400 or visit their site at www.lagaycenter.org.

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