San Francisco 1st grade takes trip to 'gay wedding'

by Michael Foust — BP

SAN FRANCISCO — The debate in California over whether "gay marriage" legalization would impact what is taught in public schools heated up Oct. 10, when a San Francisco first-grade class took a field trip to city hall to help celebrate a lesbian wedding.

The 18 first graders — from Creative Arts Charter School, a public school — took the field trip to surprise their teacher, Erin Carder, who had just "married" her partner, Kerri McCoy, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Following the ceremony the children tossed pink rose petals and blew bubbles on the women, the newspaper said. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officiated the "wedding."

The field trip comes as both sides of the debate over Proposition 8 — California's proposed constitutional marriage amendment — argue in advertisements whether "gay marriage" would impact what is taught in public schools. The field trip seems to support the arguments of Prop 8 supporters.

Liz Jaroslow, the school's interim director, told the newspaper the ceremony was a "teachable moment." At least one of the students wore a "No on 8" button. But Chip White, press secretary for ProtectMarriage.com, the main group behind the Yes on 8 campaign, disagreed.

"It's totally unreasonable that a first grade field trip would be to a same-sex wedding," White said in a statement. "This is overt indoctrination of children who are too young to understand it."

The ProtectMarriage.com website says the "wedding" demonstrates that "unless Prop. 8 passes, children will be taught about same-sex marriage in public schools."

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