California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), long used to attacking conservative states over their exclusion of LGBTQ curricula, is targeting local school districts in his own state by backing a draconian bill to force compliance.
The bill, AB 1078, introduced by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Perris), would allow the state to intervene in local districts and fine them if their curricula lacked materials on ethnic groups and “LGBTQ+ Americans.”
The bill was considered too extreme even for the state’s left-wing legislature, in which both houses are ruled by Democratic Party supermajorities. But Newsom jumped in to create a tool to use against conservative districts.
The Los Angeles Times notes that Newsom is targeting the public school district in Temecula, in Southern California, where conservatives won seats on the school board and are opposing the use of LGBTQ+ materials.