Randy Thomasson's Continuing Nonsensical Bigotry

During California's Proposition 8 Campaign, one of the fiercest proponents of the bill – which ultimately outlawed gay marriage in the state – was Randy Thomasson. Now he is leading the opposition to "Harvey Milk Day." For years, Thomasson has been one of California's most vitriolic opponents of gay rights which he frames as  "the homosexual agenda."

The California State Senate Education Committee passed SB 572 on Tuesday with a 7-2 vote. The bill encourages all California public schools to "conduct suitable commemorative exercises … remembering the life of Harvey Milk and recognizing his accomplishments as well as the contributions he made to this state."

In an article in WorldNetDaily (where else?), Thomasson inexplicably suggest that this recognition is fatally flawed because it lacks parental consent: He also suggest that this day  commemorates a sexual orientation rather than a murdered and influential California politician.

If signed into law, SB 572 will mean an official day commemorating homosexuality, bisexuality, and transsexuality in California government schools, without parental permission"

Then, Randy indulges in the usual talking points. He equates sexual orientation to smoking or drug use. He unsurprisingly trots out AIDS — which is always in the evangelicals' fear toolbox. Ultimately, this is all about hate for none of this has anything to do with honoring the memory of Harvey Milk.

It's absurd that government schools teach children not to smoke or use drugs, yet would teach children as young as kindergarten that homosexuality is good and healthy and maybe even for them. That's just not true. Homosexual and bisexual behavior causes up to 82 percent of all HIV transmissions in California."

What Thomasson is really counting on is the idea that Californians will believe that homosexuality is contagious and that youth can be "recruited" or "indoctrinated." Unfortunately, it is Thomasson's hate that is contagious. Thomasson is on a mission to recruit and indoctrinate the vulnerable regardless of common sense and science.

Stuart Milk, Harvey's nephew, writes:

Last year, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill saying that my uncle was a figure of only local significance. Since then, millions have seen how important my uncle was to the LGBT rights movement – and how he inspired so many to fight for what is right."