Before the Assembly vote, Perez pointed to a few contributions of gay people, including Friedrich von Steuben, one of George Washington’s military advisers who fled Prussia after he was hounded as a homosexual.
Von Steuben is credited with being one of the fathers of the Continental Army and teaching essenial military drills.
He also cited Alan Turing, a mathematician who helped crack Nazi Germany’s secret codes by creating the “Turing bombe,” a forerunner of modern computers.
Some churches and conservative family groups warned the bill will drive more parents to take their children out of public schools.
“This sexual brainwashing bill would mandate that children as young as 6 years old be told falsehoods — that homosexuality is biological, when it isn’t, or healthy, when it’s not,” said Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com.
The Assembly passed the bill on a 49-25 vote.
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