In a somewhat surprising move last week, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have required parents under penalty of law to support the gender transition of their minor children.
Of course, he made it clear at the time that he maintained “a deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians” and only rejected the legislation because it was written “in prescriptive terms that single out one characteristic.”
Newsom is posturing for a presidential run in 2024. He vetoed this bill to make himself look like a moderate. He’s not. He’s a radical leftist. 🤡 RT: Newsom's veto of radical transgender bill shows parents are gaining ground
https://t.co/KuFcxS8WcW— Darrell B. Harrison (@D_B_Harrison) September 24, 2023
He returned to his predictably leftist position on the matter this week when he signed into effect a law that would prevent teachers and school districts from omitting objectionable books and other age-inappropriate material from classrooms.
In an ostensible effort to protect “inclusive and diverse perspectives” in public education, the legislation — AB 1078 — includes the threat of financial penalties for school boards that object to the state-sanctioned curricula on issues including gender and race.
The bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblyman Core Jackson, failed to mention the controversial and often explicit content that can be found in some of the material criticized by many parents and a growing number of school board members.
Instead, it claimed that prohibiting the removal of any such content would help create “an equitable learning environment where all pupils, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) pupils and Black, Indigenous, and other pupils of color feel welcome, including through honest discussions of racism, the history of slavery in our society and in California, and the diversity of gender and sexual orientation that reflects the lived reality of those pupils.”
Newsom has already threatened to impose fines on the Temecula Valley Unified School District, members of which subsequently relented and agreed to adopt the controversial state curriculum.
He went on to mention the area by name in a statement touting the implementation of AB 1078.
“From Temecula to Tallahassee, fringe ideologues across the country are attempting to whitewash history and ban books from schools,” the governor said. “With this new law, we’re cementing California’s role as the true freedom state: a place where families — not political fanatics — have the freedom to decide what’s right for them.”
Republican state lawmakers expressed their opposition to the law, including Assemblyman Devon Mathis, who called it “government blackmail” against public school leaders across the state.
