Did California *Really* Ban 'Mom' and 'Dad'?
by Motte Brown on 10/15/2007 at 4:27 PM
My jaw dropped when I read this lead from WorldNetDaily.com's "'Mom' and 'Dad' banished by California."
"Mom and Dad" as well as "husband and wife" have been banned from California schools under a bill signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who with his signature also ordered public schools to allow boys to use girls restrooms and locker rooms, and vice versa, if they choose.
WorldNetDaily.com has since inserted the word "effectively" before "banned." But it was so over-the-top I had to check for myself. I read the language in the bill word for word to see if it specifically banned the terms mom, dad, husband and wife, or was written to allow boys to use girls restrooms and locker rooms.
It didn't. And it wasn't. But it's possible to see how WorldNetDaily.com and others might infer it from the bill's language.
The new law says a government school cannot have "instructional materials" or school-based "activities" that reflect adversely upon persons because of their gender or sexual orientation. Opponents say that this, in effect, means that schools can ban books or teaching aids which have the terms mom, dad, husband and wife without also having positive references to gay, bisexual and transgender couples or parents.
And as for boys and girls using the same bathrooms and locker rooms, since the California definition of gender "includes a person's gender identity and gender related appearance and behavior," then boys can use the girls' bathroom or locker room as long as they dress like or identify themselves as girls (I wonder if there is some official registration process for this).
What do you think will happen to public schools in California as a result of this law? Will these warnings prove prophetic or are they just hyperbolic?
1. Chris said the following at 8:05 PM on Oct 15:
Sensationalist claptrap. From the link to the bill:
Existing law prohibits a teacher from giving instruction, and a
school district from sponsoring any activity, that reflects adversely
upon persons because of their race, sex, color, creed, handicap,
national origin, or ancestry.
This bill would revise the list of prohibited bases of
discrimination and the kinds of prohibited instruction and activities
and, instead, would refer to disability, gender, nationality, race or
ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic
contained in the definition of hate crimes that is contained in the
Penal Code. The bill would define disability, gender, nationality,
race or ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation for this purpose
From WorldNetDaily.com:
There are no similar protections for students with traditional or conservative lifestyles and beliefs, however.
If they're claiming the new law will not protect them, how is it that religion is listed? How come they aren't clamoring that gay and lesbian students won't have similar protections because religion is listed as one of the protected classes (e.g., the mirror image of what they claim though it's all listed).
It sounds to me like some people want to get other all wound up so they can stoke discontent and maybe get some more donations. But that's just my opinion.
2. DannieA said the following at 9:55 PM on Oct 15:
I work in a school district in CA. Trust me, even if that were the case, some schools wouldn't change a thing...I think it depends on where you teach/work...whether with the PC crowd or in a neighborhood that couldn't care less about PC rules.
California is great because there are so many people that there isn't just one pull for a certain direction...there is plenty of opposition, grass roots, and balance.
I couldn't say the same for Colorado, Vermont, NH etc.
3. Louise said the following at 10:05 PM on Oct 15:
Mr. Brown, I just love your posts.
They are so unbiased.
And on that note, I'm going to bed.
After all, I need to be alert for my day spa tomorrow.
4. Jess @ Making Home said the following at 1:13 AM on Oct 16:
Seemed like a dramatic overstatement to me too... reading all KINDS of things into it that aren't stated, and using scare tactics to drum up political passion.
Frustrating that the "real" heresies and liberal influx isn't enough to write about-- that they have to go and make up things to get angry about. Definitely disappointing to me.
5. Robert J Espe said the following at 7:08 AM on Oct 16:
I think you'd be surprised at the number of trans gendered males (a man who thinks he is a woman trapped in a man's body, no surgery or cross dressing necessarily required) in schools if they were allowed to use the girls locker room. I mean come on, how stupid can people be.
6. Carrie said the following at 7:31 AM on Oct 16:
Existing law prohibits a teacher from giving instruction, and a
school district from sponsoring any activity, that reflects adversely
upon persons because of their race, sex, color, creed, handicap,
national origin, or ancestry.
This sort of wording is vague and therefore confuses me. "[T]hat reflects adversely". According to dictionary.com one of the meanings of "adversely" is "unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect". "Unfavorable" is very subjective.
The only conclusion I can come up with is filled with Southern idioms. California "is not all with us. Lord love 'em."
7. Kellie said the following at 11:07 AM on Oct 16:
Like DannieA said, it depends where in California. There was recently a school in California where a gay couple was elected "homecoming princes." While it was celebrated in that town, there are other areas where conservative values still reign. Save, for a few big cities such as LA and SF, the majority of California is still pretty conservative.
8. Maggie said the following at 5:02 PM on Oct 16:
Motte, I'd just like to say that I really appreciate your unbiased post. Regardless of my views on this topic specifically, I feel like there are often pretty severely biased blogs on here....and I just wanted to say thanks.
9. John said the following at 8:33 PM on Oct 16:
Here's a question for ya:
What's a teacher to do when two lesbian girls are engaging in PDA's purposely in your face?
And, the school does not have an official policy on PDA's for anyone. (hetero or perverted)
Couple that with the fact that the administration requires teachers to be in the hallways (which I'm all for) but won't say anything to ANYONE about PDA's, not even the french kissing-for-half-a-minute-or-more-lesbians!
10. John said the following at 8:34 PM on Oct 16:
Minority groups seek protection against hateful language, you say? Well, since life is one big zero-sum game, this will probably cause irrevocable harm to us rich white straight Christians. This is the worst imaginary affront to my values since 'Reverse Racism'!
Seriously, the fact that the hysterical reactionaries at WorldNetDaily have a problem with this bill should surprise no one.
11. Joseph said the following at 7:01 AM on Oct 17:
thanks for reading the bill cause I am certainly not up for it at the moment.
Like DanielA said, I think it will depend on the school or school district. I remember the shock when I heard about a policy to encourage diversity that came out in the 90-91, at the time it was 2000 or so and there was nothing that the policy outlined evident at the public school I attended.
12. James said the following at 1:47 PM on Oct 18:
You know what they say, "only fruits and nuts come out of California..."
Unfortunately, I think this tops most of the ridiculous things I've heard in recent times.
13. DannieA said the following at 10:13 PM on Oct 18:
I'd rather live in Ca. then in Vermont or anywhere in the north east.
14. Justice said the following at 12:24 PM on Oct 19:
Why you would even quote something from that site one has to question as to how much alcohol you may have consumed before writing this post.
15. Kellie said the following at 1:47 PM on Oct 19:
I agree with DannieA (again!), Cali is a great state to live in. We may have our share of nuts, but also great diversity, cultures, not to mention beaches and mountains!!
16. John said the following at 5:56 PM on Oct 19:
Ah, diversity, now that's a great quality for a state.
What a great RINO that Schwarzenegger.
Is there anyway to cut california and nyc off and let them drift far out into the ocean to sink?
17. Kellie said the following at 9:47 AM on Oct 20:
John, I would remind you that there are Christians in every state and non-Christians as well. Getting rid of California and New York would not solve any problems. And yes, diversity is a great thing. I have enjoyed growing up learning about many cultures and being friends with those who are different than myself. Rememeber, Christianity is not limited to white America.
18. DannieA said the following at 8:03 PM on Oct 21:
John
Californians are full of "real" Christians...in fact one of my non-Christian friends says we are more religious and church bound than her family and most of the north east so there you go.
Before judging Cali, you should really talk to the people here. WE are as they say "real".
19. Kelly said the following at 10:06 PM on Oct 25:
If the words "Mom and Dad," and "husband and wife" are banned from public schools here in California, it may be a matter of time before they are banned from other public places, as well. Nobody should be allowed to tell people that they can't refer to their parents as "Mom and Dad" or their spouse as "My husband" or "my wife." That is just plain wrong! Since when did these words become discriminatory? They are non-threatening, and non-offensive. What are we going to call each other? Are we going to refer to our Moms and Dads as "My non-gender specific parents?" Will married people have to introduce their husband or wife as "My non-gender specific spouse?" The homosexual agenda is taking away our rights as Americans by doing away with any words that pertain to family or gender. And it's forcing public schools to teach children as young as five years old that alternative lifestyles are normal and may even be for them. We should not put up with this. We are not robots, and we must take a stand and let the government know that we will not be censored like this, and that our children should not be sexually indoctrinated in school.
Right now, there is a new referendum underway, and if it passes, it will overturn this new law. Anybody who wants to help out with the referendum can do so by visiting www.saveourkids.net. Petitions will be available soon, and you can request them by filling out a form on their petition webpage. We need to make our voices heard on this matter, people! Let's make this happen!
20. Chad said the following at 1:37 PM on Oct 29:
I knew that the WorldNetDaily article couldn't have been 100% true, espically when they didn't cite any sources, but every other reference I could find to the story just linked back to that site. Thank you for providing a link to the truth so that we can read it for ourselves.
21. Heidi said the following at 5:10 PM on Oct 30:
I can see it now. Young men get their free ticket to use the girls restroom. A rape happens, a lawsuit happens...but wait....at least the bisexuals, and cross-genders, and homosexuals aren't offended. Happy Day!
Over my dead body will my kids enter a public school where the opposite sex (or transvestite!)is allowed to enter their restroom or locker room!