Calif. Governor Edicts Same-sex Marriages

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed two gay rights bills, one honoring late activist Harvey Milk and another recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.

-- From "Schwarzenegger signs gay rights bills" by Dan Smith, Sacramento Bee 10/12/09

In the last of hundreds of bill actions taken before midnight Sunday, Schwarzenegger approved the two bills by Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco.

The governor last year vetoed the measure declaring May 22 a state day of recognition for [homosexual hero] Milk, suggesting that the former San Francisco supervisor be honored locally. But he subsequently named him to the California Hall of Fame.

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From "California bill to recognize some same-sex marriages" CNN 10/12/09

Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere between June 16, 2008, and November 5, 2008, are to be legally recognized, as are in-state marriages performed during that time.

The end date represents when a ballot initiative, Proposition 8, added a ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution.

Proposition 8 bars the state from recognizing any marriage performed outside the state outside those dates. The state Supreme Court ruled after the proposition passed that marriages performed before the ban would remain on the books.

But Senate Bill 54 splits a legal hair and requires the state to recognize such marriages as "unions," providing "the same legal protections that would otherwise be available to couples that enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships out-of-state," the governor said.

"The governor's signing of SB 54 illustrates his disregard for the sovereign authority of California's voting citizens," said Everett Rice, a spokesman for the California Family Council.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

CA Court Preserves Right of Parents to Homeschool

Gov. Schwarzenegger praises the reversal by the 2nd District Court of Appeal as a victory for students and parental rights.

-- From "Parents may home-school children without teaching credential, California court says" by Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer 8/9/08

Parents may legally home-school their children in California even if they lack a teaching credential, a state appellate court ruled Friday. The decision is a reversal of the court's earlier position, which effectively prohibited most home schooling and sparked fear throughout the state's estimated 166,000 home-schoolers.

[Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said,] "I hope the ruling settles this matter for parents and home-schooled children once and for all in California, but assure them that we, as elected officials, will continue to defend parents' rights."

In February, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled in a child protection hearing that parents must have a teaching credential to home-school their children. The decision caused a nationwide uproar among home-schoolers, religious activists and others, and the court agreed to reconsider its decision, a move described as unusual but not unprecedented.

The issue arose in part because California's laws do not specifically address home schooling, unlike those of at least 30 other states.

Friday's ruling essentially upheld the position of the state Department of Education and state Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, who have traditionally allowed home schooling as long as parents file paperwork with the state establishing themselves as private schools, hire credentialed tutors or enroll their children in independent study programs run by charter or private schools or public school districts.

"As head of California's public school system, it would be my wish that all children attend public school, but I understand that a traditional public school environment may not be the right setting for each and every child," he said. "I recognize and understand the consternation that the earlier court ruling caused for many parents and associations involved in home schooling. It is my hope that today's ruling will allay many of those fears and resolve much of the confusion."

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Want to know the public school teacher's opinion? CLICK HERE.

Hope for California Homeschoolers

Gov. Schwarzenegger says outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts

From "Schwarzenegger Pledges to Support Right to Home School" by Citizenlink Staff report, posted 3/11/08 at citizenlink.com

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for the reversal of a recent appellate court decision banning parents from educating their children at home if they lack teaching credentials, the Los Angeles Times reported. If the state Supreme Court fails to act, the governor vowed to push through legislation guaranteeing families' right to home-school.

"This outrageous ruling must be overturned by the courts, and if the courts don't protect parents' rights, then, as elected officials, we will," he said in a written statement.

Read more here.

Take action now: the full article includes links for concerned citizens nationwide to sign a petition asking the California Supreme Court to "depublish" the case, and a way to thank Gov. Schwarzeneggar for supporting parents' rights to educate their children as they see fit.

Initial Report:
Judge Orders Homeschoolers into Government Education