Parents and Teachers: Please Vote YES on Proposition 8!

Same-Sex Marriage WILL Be Taught in Public Schools

This morning I came across this letter from Carol, a concerned California resident. In her letter, Carol discusses the importance of voting YES on Proposition 8 in protecting basic freedoms including parental rights in public schools. In case you haven't heard, the no on 8 campaign is spreading lies about the affect that legalizing same-sex marriage will have on Californians, including the erroneous and baffling claim that same-sex marriage will not be taught in schools without parental consent.

In her letter, Carol explains, "I know that the opponents to Prop 8 are claiming that voting no on 8 will not affect the education of our children in any way. They state that there is a mandate that already prohibits teachers from teaching health issues without parental consent. While that may be true (for now), it doesn’t address whether they will teach about gay unions while discussing either families or diversity. Books are being read to 1st graders in Massachusetts (as part of diversity training) about men marrying other men as part of normal family life." (Watch Robb and Robin Worthlin's story here.)

In other words, the no on 8 campaign would like Californians to believe that because there is a state mandate which "prohibits teachers from teaching health issues without parental consent," same-sex marriage will not be taught to children at school without parental consent. This claim is false because, as Carol points out, teachers teach more than just health in public schools. If same-sex marriage is legalized, there are countless ways same-sex marriage could (and will) enter the school curriculum. (Watch the Parker's story here.)

The CTA, ACLU and Others WILL Promote Gay Marriage in California Public Schools, As the ACLU and Others Have Already Done in Massachusetts.

Here's another part of Carol's letter that really struck me. She says, "What is even more baffling is that on one hand the California Teachers Association is backing the no on 8 --with $1.25 million already donated for their cause--while on the other they are insistent that this has nothing to do with education. If that is truly the case, then isn’t it a little ironic that the Association is even involved?"

"Furthermore" Carol says, "the other organizations against Prop 8 (namely the ACLU, Anti-Defamation League, Equality for All), who say gay marriage will not be taught in public schools, are the same organizations who fought for it to be so in Massachusetts."

These organizations WILL take away parental rights in order to promote the gay lifestyle, just as they have already done in Massachusetts. Carol sites these statements from the ACLU and other no on 8 advocates: (These statements from the Parker v. Hurley case are on file with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, Massachusetts in the case Parker v. Hurley (514 F.3d 87 (1st Cir.2008))

From the ACLU Amicus Curiae Brief: "Specifically, the parents in this case do not have a constitutional right to override the professional pedagogical judgment of the school with respect to the inclusion within the curriculum of the age-appropriate children’s book…King and King.” [p 9]

From the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Amicus Curiae Brief: “In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where the right of same-sex couples to marry is protected under the state constitution, it is particularly important to teach children about families with gay parents.” [p 5]

From the Human Rights Campaign Amicus Curiae Brief: “There is no constitutional principle grounded in either the First Amendment’s free exercise clause or the right to direct the upbringing of one’s children, which requires defendants to either remove the books now in issue – or to treat them as suspect by imposing an opt-out system.” [pp1-2] (Read the rest of Carol's letter here.)

The Ridiculous Lie

Same-sex marriage advocates argue that redefining marriage to include same-sex marriage will not affect anyone, including school children. This strange claim is completely counter to their fundamental argument, which is that same-sex marriage is a civil right. In other words, the no on 8 advocates are fighting tooth and nail to gain their "civil right" to same-sex marriage because "separate but equal" is not the American way... yet they say that their "equal" same-sex marriage will be taught "separately" in public schools. (And they say it will only be taught with parental consent.) In regards to education, no on 8 advocates are essentially saying, "we deserve to have our marriages recognized and we want acceptance of same-sex marriages enforced by civil rights laws... except in public schools... oh yeah, and churches." This is a lie. Please see it for what it is.

Parents and Teachers, Please Understand What This Issue is Really About.

I hope Californians can see past the ridiculous claims of same-sex marriage advocates. Advocates of same-sex marriage want their lifestyle accepted by everyone, including (and especially) children. Public schools and religious institutions are two of the most basic tools (outside of the family) which teach morals and socialize our children. Same-sex marriage advocates are pushing for the legalization of gay marriage in California because they desire to force acceptance of their lifestyle via the influence of public schools and churches. This is their agenda. Same-sex marriage advocates do not want you teaching your children that homosexual behavior is wrong. They desire to take away the rights of anyone who disagrees with homosexual behavior.

Please fight for your parental rights, and for traditional marriages and families! Vote YES on 8!