SACRAMENTO, Calif. (W.) Aug. 30, 2006 -Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law a measure that Christian groups say would require all businesses and organizations receiving funding from the state to condone homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality or else lose state funding.
There is no exception for faith- based organizations or business owners with sincerely held religious convictions, one group said, WordNews.org reported.
“This isn’t even a veiled attempt at subtly advancing the radical homosexual agenda,” stated Karen England, executive director of Capitol Resource Institute. “SB 1441 is an outright, blatant assault on religious freedom in California.”
England said the legislation will prevent parochial schools and religious universities from receiving student financial assistance if they also maintain a student code of conduct preventing behavior deemed immoral by their religious beliefs. She said by withholding state funding from schools, students’ educational opportunities will be severely limited.
“As a citizen of California and a religious person, I am terribly disappointed in Governor Schwarzenegger,” said Meredith Turney, Legislative Liaison for Capitol Resource Institute. “It is bad public policy to add to the list of protected classes a sexual behavior. Equating sexual preference with the immutable characteristics of age, national origin or race will result in other variable behaviors being added to the list of invariable classes rightfully protected.”
Forcing private education institutions to accept students engaged in behavior offensive to the school’s moral code is a serious infringement of the constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, she said.
“This bill is yet another attempt to prevent citizens with moral and religious principles from expressing their beliefs and educating their children according to those beliefs,” said England. “On behalf of California families, private schools and other private organization, I express our outrage at this attack on our freedom. Unfortunately for California families, there are several other radical homosexual bills heading towards the governor’s desk.”
