Fox's Bolling Hosts Schweikart To Bash CA Bill, Attack LGBT Americans

Schweikart: “I'm Sure The National Association Of Albinos And The National Association For Polygamists Is Waiting Out There ... To Start Making Sure That They Get Acknowledged, Too.” On the July 8 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, guest host Eric Bolling interviewed Larry Schweikart about a bill recently passed in California that would require schools to teach the historical contributions of LGBT Americans. Schweikart said that the bill would require “giv[ing] treatment of significant accomplishments of gays and lesbians ... in various historical settings” and went on to add, “I'm sure the national association of albinos and the association for polygamists is waiting out there to get in line to have their say and to start making sure that they get acknowledged, too.” From the broadcast:

BOLLING: It's a potential change in school curriculum that's raising some eyebrows. California's governor may soon approve a bill that would make it mandatory to teach gay history and contributions gay Americans have made. But does this kind of political correctness have a place in our public schools? Dr. Larry Schweikart is a professor of history at the University of Dayton and the author of A Patriot's History Reader. OK, so first of all, tell us exactly where this stands in California law right now.

SCHWEIKART: It's awaiting signature from -- from the governor. And, you know, California is one of the leading textbook providers in the country. Not as big as it was. Texas now, I think, is in first place. But this could be very significant if it goes through, because it's going to affect textbooks everywhere.

BOLLING: And tell us exactly how it's going to affect them. Tell us what the bill proposes.

SCHWEIKART: Well, you have to give treatment of significant accomplishments of gays and lesbians, you know, in various historical settings. This is a continuation of the kind of political correctness that we talked about a couple of years ago on Fox & Friends when we did our “trouble with textbooks” segment, and basically what it's going to require is that you have certain number of lines, literally, certain number of words, dedicated to gays and lesbians at all points in history, as you now do in the textbooks with blacks, with Hispanics. You know, I'm sure the national association of albinos and the association for polygamists is waiting out there to get in line to have their say and to start making sure that they get acknowledged, too.

BOLLING: Professor, Professor, tell me how young these children are -- are going to be who are going to be exposed to these textbooks?

SCHWEIKART: Well, the textbooks go all the way into elementary school. Now, I'm not sure when the California curriculum goes into Social Studies in terms of gay and lesbian [sic], but usually it's somewhere around fourth, fifth grade that you start getting that sort of stuff.

BOLLING: All right. You know, it is a little different, though. I mean, I understand the African-Americans. I think it even goes as far as South Pacific people, right, have to be represented. But this is different, right? This is a sexual orientation. Shouldn't that be left to parents?

SCHWEIKART: Exactly. I mean, not only does it offend religious values of a number of Americans, but it's irrelevant. You know, what we in history have to be concerned with is significance -- why is something significant, how does it affect the largest number of people over time. And who Ulysses Grant slept with on, you know, the night before a major battle is irrelevant unless it caused him to win or lose the battle. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/8/11]

“Propaganda” And “Lying”: Fox Has Repeatedly Attacked CA LGBT History Bill

O'Reilly Claimed, Malkin Agreed That Bill Would Prevent Teachers From “Say[ing] Bad Things About Jeffrey Dahmer” Because He Was “A Gay Cannibal.” In May 2006, when a version of the California bill was being considered by the state government, Bill O'Reilly claimed on his Fox News show that “if you are a teacher ... you're not going to be able to say bad things about [convicted murderer] Jeffrey Dahmer,” because Dahmer was “a gay cannibal.” Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin agreed that O'Reilly's evaluation of the proposed legislation's impact was “right,” adding that it “is a very radical, very extreme, dangerous bill” that “is pure political propaganda.” [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 5/9/06, via Media Matters]

Fox Attacks LGBT History Bill As “Propaganda” From “Pro-Gay Agenda.” In December 2010, Fox & Friends hosted Fox News contributor Tucker Carlson to bash the bill, claiming it would require teachers to use history to “raise the self-esteem of students” rather than “teach you what happened.” He also called the bill “propaganda” and “blackmail.” [Media Matters, 12/20/10]

Kilmeade: “Should Public School Teachers Be Ordered To Tell Their Students Why It's OK To Be Gay?” On the April 19 edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade teased an upcoming segment about the California bill by saying, “Should public school teachers be ordered to tell their students why it's OK to be gay?” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/19/11, via Media Matters]

Doocy Responded To CA Bill By Urging Parents To “Homeschool.” On the April 19 edition of Fox & Friends, the co-hosts again discussed the bill with Tucker Carlson. While talking about the provisions of the bill, co-host Steve Doocy said parents should “homeschool” to avoid their children having to learn about the contributions of LGBT Americans. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/19/11, via Media Matters]