Temecula, CA school board caves and approves controversial LGBTQ curriculum after threats of $1.5 million fine from Gavin Newsom

A conservative California school board in Riverside County has approved a previously rejected social studies curriculum for students in Grades 1 through 5 that briefly discusses the life and legacy of Harvey Milk. Aside from being a human rights activist and the first openly gay elected official in California, Milk was accused of acting inappropriately around teenagers, leading many to question whether it was proper for children to be learning about him. 

The Temecula Valley Unified School District's board originally ruled 3-2 against using an updated textbook, Social Studies Alive!, but reversed course after Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened to fine them $1.5 million for failing to adhere to a 2011 California law that requires schools to teach students about LGBTQ historical figures.



According to Fox News, the TVUSD approved the textbook at a meeting on Friday, but asked the interim superintendent to look over parts that deal with gay rights and the legal fight for same-sex marriage in California with the goal of "substituting age appropriate curriculum" that is "consistent with the board's commitment to exclude sexualized topics of instruction from elementary school grade levels" while still adhering to state law.

During the meeting, Board President Joseph Komrosky lamented the fact that the TVUSD was at risk of being sued by the government for not implementing a particular curriculum, but stated that his decision to reconsider the ruling was not made out of fear, but rather just to avoid the burden of a lawsuit. Adoption of the textbook passed unanimously the second time around.
 

"Fortunately, now students will receive the basic materials needed to learn," Newsom said in a statement, "but this vote lays bare the true motives of those who opposed this curriculum ... This is about extremists' desire to control information and censor the materials used to teach our children."

“Demagogues who whitewash history, censor books, and perpetuate prejudice never succeed," he continued. "Hate doesn't belong in our classrooms and because of the board majority's antics, Temecula has a civil rights investigation to answer for."

Newsom did not mention the allegations leveled against Milk.