VETO URGED ON LIFESTYLE BILLS PARENTS, OTHERS SAY MEASURES UNDERCUT FAMILY VALUES.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- Some parents, pastors, educators and elected officials urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday to veto two bills they say are attempts to advance the gay agenda and subvert parents' moral authority over their children.

The legislation is designed by liberals to undercut traditional values and redesign school curriculum to force acceptance of views contrary to families' religious beliefs, they said.

``We became very concerned when we learned that public schools were going to be forced to pick a particular moral view and teach it to kids,'' said Scot Sutherland, leader of Concerned Parents of the High Desert and an earth science and pre-engineering teacher at Highland High School.

At a news conference held in front of Monte Vista School, the parents group presented a letter being sent to the governor urging he veto the bills. Forty-five parents, educators, school board members, local elected officials and church pastors signed the letter.

Assembly Bills 606 and 1056, along with Senate Bill 1437, were described by the group as a ``triple threat'' that would undermine family values and was characterized by Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, on her Web site as an ``aggressive agenda by homosexual, bisexual and transgender activists to turn our schools into `laboratories' of indoctrination.''

Schwarzenegger earlier this month vetoed Senate Bill 1437, which would have prohibited school instruction, textbooks and activities that ``reflect adversely'' on people based on their sexual orientation or religion.

The governor has until Saturday to take action on the other two bills.

AB 1056 would redefine the word ``tolerance'' to require acceptance of alternative lifestyles such as homosexuality and bisexuality, and AB 606 would authorize the state schools superintendent to withhold funds from schools deemed to be out of compliance with such anti-discrimination laws, the group said.

Assembly Bill 606 by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, would require schools to adopt a policy that prohibits discrimination and harassment based on characteristics, including a person's ``actual or perceived gender identity and sexual orientation,'' provide training for staff on how to handle discrimination and allow the state schools superintendent to withhold funding for the district if it is not in compliance.

AB 1056 by Assemblyman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, would establish a pilot program at 10 schools to promote the instruction of tolerance and intergroup relations and encourage schools to consult with human relations commissions and civil-rights organizations.

``The reason we started this bill is because of racial conflicts that started in Santa Clarita, Malibu and San Bernardino,'' Chu said. ``We have African-Americans moving out to those areas, but they have been met with insults and in some cases assaults.

``I'm just so disappointed that they cannot see that it's important for kids to learn how to get along with each other. In reality every group stands to gain from a tolerance curriculum. I think it will provide a safe learning environment for our students and it will teach youth to learn and appreciate differences in people,'' Chu said.

Critics counter that tolerance does not mean accepting the gay lifestyle and that children should not be exposed to that philosophy.

``Tolerance does not mean that a particular lifestyle is acceptable. It's wrong for a group to push an agenda that would teach children to accept a lifesytle that they believe is unacceptable,'' Lancaster Councilman Ron Smith said.

Ken Hart, president of the Antelope Valley Ministerial Association and pastor at Highlands Church in Palmdale, said the legislation would ``erode the status of the family and rights of the family to decide what is appropriate for our children.''

``Right here in back of us in these classrooms and in classrooms across the state, our rights are being threatened,'' Lancaster Mayor Henry Hearns said.

The group in its letter said that AB 606 would allow the state to unilaterally withhold funds if it is decided that ``the school is not meeting the requirements in terms of politically correct treatment of sexual orientation.''

Runner's Web site said AB 606 ``will stifle open dialogue in our schools by silencing students who do not agree with the lifestyle choice of those who are homosexual, bisexual or transgendered.''

Levine said he was tired of hearing the criticism of his bill.

``That is so far from the truth, and unfortunately when you talk to some of these youth who are gay or are perceived to be gay and what they have to go through at schools, it's ridiculous,'' Levine said.

``When they turn to those who are supposed to provide support, they don't get it. They don't get any help anywhere and it makes it difficult for them to learn. It's not about indoctrination. It's a bill that guarantees the right for all in California to learn in a safe and harassment-free environment.''

The group's letter said Chu's bill would open up curriculum decisions to ``outside organizations to establish extraneous requirements in terms of harassment and bullying which ... is already covered in state law.''

``Relying on civil rights organizations to design curriculum would use our classrooms to indoctrinate children with a politically correct view of how society should function as espoused by groups that often have a partisan political agenda,'' Runner's Web site said.

``Supporters of this bill seek to redefine tolerance so that children are taught they must also `convey respect' toward lifestyle choices they disagree with. It is not enough to just teach tolerance. This bill seeks to eliminate liberty of conscience by reprogramming children's thoughts,'' the Web site. said.

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color -- ran in AV edition only) Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, left, Lancaster City Councilman Ron Smith and parent Scot Sutherland take part in a news conference urging veto of a pair of bills on the governor's desk.

(2 -- ran in AV edition only) City of Lancaster Mayor Henry Hearns speaks at a news conference Wednesday urging the veto of two lifestyle bills.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer