Referendum papers have been filed seeking to let voters decide the fate of a new California law requiring public schools to teach about societal contributions made by gay and lesbian people.
The Pacific Justice Institute and an arm of Capitol Resource Institute are helping to lead the effort by a coalition of groups, which filed referendum documents this month with the state Attorney General's Office.
The coalition hopes to kill Senate Bill 48, legislation that Gov. Jerry Brown said "represents an important step forward for our state" when he signed it into law last Thursday. It is set to take effect Jan. 1.
The bill, proposed by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, requires instruction in the social sciences to include the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, as well as people with disabilities and members of other cultural groups.
The new law, opposed by legislative Republicans, prohibits teaching from textbooks or other instructional materials that reflect adversely on people because of their sexual orientation.
Leno contends that California's gay and lesbian community historically has been demonized and discriminated against. The state does a disservice to students by not discussing contributions made by that community to civil rights and to society, according to Leno.
Opponents of SB 48 contend that people should be judged by their work, not their sexual preference -- and that recognizing the latter is divisive and objectionable to families that disapprove of homosexual lifestyles for religious, moral or other reasons.
"We cannot afford to stay silent or stand on the sidelines," Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, said in a written statement. "Californians are extremely tolerant, but we draw the line when history is revised to please a special interest group."
Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Family Impact, an arm of Capitol Resource Institute, said that reaction to SB 48 "has been like nothing I've seen -- the outrage, the interest nationwide has been very positive to our side of things."
Referendum supporters would need to gather about 505,000 voter signatures within 90 days to place the issue before voters next year.
* Updated at 2:30 p.m. to add comments by Karen England and Brad Dacus, and to indicate that the referendum drive is being conducted by a coalition of groups.
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