California's New Workplace Harassment Law Faces Backlash from Christian Groups

Christian organizations and pastors in California are raising concerns over Assembly Bill 1803, a new law mandating the inclusion of anti-hate speech instruction in workplace harassment training. Critics contend the law, set to take effect on January 1, 2028, forces employers to adopt a government-approved perspective on sexual orientation and gender identity, potentially conflicting with traditional Christian teachings.

The legislation requires employers with five or more employees to enhance their existing harassment training to include instruction on identifying, reporting, and addressing speech that "vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred" based on protected characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity. However, the law does not explicitly exempt churches whose doctrines hold that homosexual acts or same-sex relationships contradict biblical teachings.

Greg Burt, vice president of the California Family Council (CFC), stated that the legislation appears to be an attempt to "retrain the entire population regarding what they believe about gender and sexual orientation." He noted that the curriculum developed by California's Civil Rights Department "explicitly condemn[s] anyone who has a conservative view."

Pastor Paul Chappell of Lancaster Baptist Church echoed these sentiments, calling AB 1803 "poorly written and a stretch by another liberal California legislator attempting to create bias against conservatives." Burt further argued during a March hearing on the bill that "You cannot regulate what you cannot define," pointing out the lack of a clear legal definition for "hate speech" in state law.

The training module provided on the California Civil Rights website defines "gender identity" as an individual's "internal understanding of their gender," which may include male, female, a combination, neither, or nonbinary. This definition, critics argue, goes beyond preventing harassment and encroaches on religious freedom.

Burt highlighted that the new training requirements extend beyond private sector employees to public school teachers and workers in various licensed industries. He expressed concern that this could place employers in a position of having to discipline employees over their religious beliefs, potentially leading to lawsuits.

Equality California, a leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization that supported the legislation, has stated that existing harassment training leaves employees vulnerable to hostile work environments. Attempts to reach the organization for comment were unsuccessful.

Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills described the law as an "encroachment upon the church" and an attempt by the state legislature to act as a "moral police." He criticized the government for seeking to "legislate their godless morality even into the conduct of the church."

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1803 into law last month. The California Civil Rights Department and the Governor's office were contacted for comment.