California's New Anti-Hate Speech Law Sparks Backlash from Christian Groups
Conservative Christians argue that a new California law mandating "anti-hate speech" training in workplaces could force them to promote viewpoints contrary to their religious beliefs.
A new California law, set to take effect January 1, 2028, requires employers to incorporate instruction on recognizing, reporting, and addressing workplace speech that "vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred" based on protected characteristics into existing harassment training. This legislation, Assembly Bill 1803, has drawn sharp criticism from conservative Christian organizations and pastors who contend that it compels employers to promote a government-approved ideology and could inadvertently target traditional religious teachings.
The law applies to employers with five or more employees already subject to state harassment-training mandates. However, Christian churches whose doctrines hold that homosexual acts or same-sex relationships are contrary to biblical teachings fear that their beliefs could become ensnared in workplace disputes over what constitutes hate speech. The legislation does not include explicit exemptions for matters of conscience.
Greg Burt, vice president of the California Family Council (CFC), expressed concern that the law, and the curriculum developed by California's Civil Rights Department, explicitly condemns conservative viewpoints. "California has gotten excited about their ability to retrain the entire population regarding what they believe about gender and sexual orientation," Burt stated, adding that the state's approach could extend beyond clearly defined hateful speech to target disfavored viewpoints, including religious beliefs.
Burt also noted that the training requirements are not limited to private-sector employees, extending to public school teachers and workers in licensed industries. He warned that this could place employers in a position of disciplining employees for their religious beliefs, potentially leading to lawsuits.
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills echoed these sentiments, describing the law as an "encroachment upon the church." He criticized the California legislature for positioning itself as a "moral police" and imposing its own morality, which he termed "godless," into the conduct of churches. Hibbs asserted that the church serves as the "moral conscience of any culture" and that the new law is an "unacceptable" overreach that will be challenged.
Equality California, a prominent LGBTQ+ advocacy organization and supporter of the legislation, has stated that existing harassment training contains significant gaps, leaving employees vulnerable to hostile work environments. Despite requests for comment, the organization declined to provide further statements to Fox News Digital.