Here is yet another example of the referendum, inititive process working against equal, social justice.
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The latest on California politics and government
July 21, 2011
Effort launched to kill new law touting gay, lesbian contributions
A Sacramento-based advocacy group has filed referendum papers 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.
Capitol Resource Institute, which describes itself as a "watchdog for family values," filed its documents this month with the state Attorney General's Office, which is a prelude to launching a signature-gathering campaign.
The group 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 member 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.
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.
Referendum supporters would need to gather about 505,000 voter signatures within 90 days to place the issue before voters next year.
Categories: 2012 ballot initiatives, Bills (2011-2012 session)
Posted by Jim Sanders
Read more:
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalert...#ixzz1SltNwzZ8