CALIFORNIA ALLIANCE FOR PRIDE & EQUALITY (CAPE)
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Equality
http://www.calcape.org

URGENT ACTION ALERT!

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY FAX YOUR ORGANIZATION'S LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO AB 1326 (MOUNTJOY)!
(Please forward to other concerned groups and organizations)

AB 1326, by Assemblymember Mountjoy, is scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Education Committee
on Wednesday, May 2nd, in Room 4202 of the State Capitol.

AB 1326 (Mountjoy) would prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality in public education." This bill is another attempt to raise fears and hatred toward lesbian and gay Californians. AB 1326, albeit in one short sentence, creates problems of enormous and constitutional proportion. It is so vague and overbroad that it would infringe upon the First Amendment right of students, teachers and administrators alike. Under AB 1326, gay/straight student alliances will be banned, library books and materials will be censored, teachers and school counselors, often the only adults to whom students may turn, will not be able to discuss questions about sexuality or even anti-gay harassment, vital counseling services for students that help prevent teen suicide attempts will be taken away, and HIV/AIDS and other health education programs will be severely limited or eliminated.

PLEASE FAX YOUR ORGANIZATION'S LETTER OF OPPOSITION IMMEDIATELY TO:

Honorable Chair and Members
Assembly Education Committee
State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone:916-319-2087, Fax:916-319-2187

Please fax a copy to CAPE at 916-646-1569.

A sample letter of support is attached for your reference.
We strongly urge organizations, groups, and businesses to send your opposition letter no later than April 27th in order to be included in the committee analysis.

If you have any questions, please contact Eric Astacaan, CAPE Legislative Advocate, at 916-929-6331 or eric.astacaan@home.com.

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SAMPLE LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO AB 1326 (MOUNTJOY)
(Preferably in organization's letterhead)

The Honorable Virginia Strom-Martin, Chair, and
Honorable Members of the Assembly Education Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814

Re:AB 1326 (Mountjoy) - OPPOSE!
As introduced February 23, 2001
Hearing Date:May 2, 2001

Dear Committee Chair and Members:

The (Name of Organization) strongly urges you to oppose AB 1326, by Assemblymember Dennis Mountjoy. This bill would prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality in public education."

We strongly oppose AB 1326 for the following reasons:

• This bill may be unconstitutional as it so vague and overbroad that it infringes upon the First Amendment right of students, teachers, and administrators alike. Gay/straight student alliance clubs will be barred from forming in violation of the First Amendment and the federal Equal Access Act (20 U.S.C. §§ 4071 - 4074) that establish the requirement of equal treatment for all non-curriculum related clubs. It suggests censoring library books and materials that provide nothing more than a balanced, nonjudgmental view of lesbian and gay people.
• It would take away vital counseling services for students that help prevent teen suicide attempts. Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are at a four times higher risk for suicide than their straight peers. Under AB 1326, teachers and school counselors, often the only adults to whom students may turn, will be unable to discuss questions about sexuality, or even anti-gay harassment. Students who describe themselves as lesbian or gay are five-times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe. 28% are forced to drop-out.
• HIV/AIDS and other health education programs would be severely limited or eliminated. With one-half of new HIV infections occurring in young people under 25 years of age, we should be providing more age-appropriate health information to kids so that they can be responsible as they become adults.
• This bill directly conflicts with the general anti-discrimination and harassment provisions of the California Education Code enacted under AB 537 (Kuehl), Chapter 537, Statutes of 1999.
• Schools already are difficult, painful places for many gay and lesbian students. AB 1326 would only increase their isolation and alienation, and encourage those who engage in gay-baiting and other harassment. At its core, AB 1326 highlights the same cruel intention to raise fears and hatred toward gay and lesbian Californians.

Very truly yours,

PRINT NAME AND SIGN
ORGANIZATION AND ADDRESS
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Eric-Joseph C. Astacaan
Legislative Advocate
California Alliance for Pride & Equality (CAPE)
Phone:916-929-6331, Fax:916-646-1569
E-Mail:eric.astacaan@home.com or laxsmfca@tomatoweb.com

The California Alliance for Pride & Equality (CAPE) is a nonprofit, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the dignity, safety, equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Californians.

Please support CAPE by becoming a member:
California Alliance for Pride and Equality (CAPE)
P.O. Box 1172, Sacramento, CA 95812-1172
N. CA Phone:916-492-6160
S. CA Phone:562-439-7304, Fax:562-439-0734
E-Mail:Email@calcape.org
http://www.calcape.org or http://www.raiseamillionvoices.org
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