Fundamentalists Lose Battle on Sex Education

Christian fundamentalists failed in their attempt to change new sex education guidelines they claim would promote gay lifestyles, but they said they will regroup for another try this summer.

The state Curriculum Commission, which advises the state Board of Education, approved health education guidelines Thursday without deleting sex education sections attacked by conservative groups.

The 94-page plan will be considered later this year by the Board of Education where, both critics and supporters of the guidelines say, the biggest battle lies.

Last updated in 1978, the guidelines will help shape public school teaching and become a national standard for publishers in preparing textbooks. California is the nation’s largest textbook market.

Conservative groups were not appeased by changes the commission made in response to criticisms at a public hearing Wednesday. The changes included strengthening references to traditional families, resisting peer pressure for early sexual activity, notifying parents their children are entering sex education classes, and involving parents in the entire health education process.

The commission retained a controversial section that says the term family is applied now to many situations, including “households headed by partners of the same sex.”

It kept another section that, although recommending abstinence as the only sure way for youths to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, suggests schools teach “preventive strategies” to those who do not abstain from sex.

Parts of the document are “totally unacceptable because homosexuality is not acceptable to present to young, impressionable children and teen-agers as a viable lifestyle,” said the Rev. Lou Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, a conservative evangelical group.

But the commission action was applauded by other groups.

“This is a victory. The commission did not cave in to the far right,” said Michael Hudson of the People for the American Way.