Letter on bills offers intolerant viewpoints

Mischaracterization of issues and legislation is typical of those opposing any so-called "gay agenda," and Fred Akers' letter about three California bills proves him no exception ("Candidate's support of bills trouble reader," June 2).

Akers describes Senate Bill 1437 as requiring explicit study of "lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-genders in our society," and erasing "traditional distinctions of gender or sexual standards." What the bill actually says is that social sciences shall include an "age-appropriate study of the role and contributions of both men and women, Black Americans, American Indians, Mexicans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and other ethnic groups, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender," and that no instruction or materials shall "reflect adversely" upon any of these groups. In other words, all these people contribute to our history; don't denigrate them.

His description of Assembly Bill 606 claims that state funds can be withheld from school districts "that do not promote trans-sexuality, bisexuality and homosexuality."

What the bill is actually about is providing a "Safe Place To Learn," by ensuring that all schools and districts "reduce discrimination, harassment and violence" and establish policy that "prohibits discrimination and harassment based on ? but not limited to, actual or perceived gender identity and sexual orientation."

The superintendent "may use any means authorized by law," including withholding fiscal support, to bring a district into compliance. In other words, knock off the bashing ? gay or otherwise ? and any other kind of marginalization.

Akers calls AB 1056 "the first step in forcing all children in all California public schools to 'tolerate' ? that is, to embrace and support ? transsexuality, bisexuality and homosexuality." It seems to him that it would even force them to "consider adopting these sexual lifestyles themselves!" From the bill: "The Tolerance Education Pilot Program" is established "to promote tolerance and intergroup relations."

It states that "tolerance" means attitudes and behaviors that convey respect, and "does not mean a passive allowance or indulgence of the beliefs or practices of another individual." In other words, everybody's got as much right to be here as you have, so try to get along.