California Christian Groups Oppose AB 1803 Workplace Training for Firms With 5+ Employees
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 18
California Christian Groups Oppose AB 1803 Workplace Training for Firms With 5+ Employees
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 18
Summary
AB 1803, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last month, will require California employers with five or more workers to add anti-hate-speech instruction to existing harassment training starting Jan. 1, 2028.
Christian groups and pastors say the law lacks a clear definition of hate speech and no explicit conscience or church exemption, risking discipline or lawsuits over traditional teachings on sexuality, marriage and gender.
The state training material already defines gender identity as an internal understanding that can include nonbinary or neither male nor female, which critics say turns employers into enforcers of a government-approved viewpoint.
Equality California has argued the measure closes a gap in harassment training that leaves workers exposed to hostile environments, underscoring the broader clash between LGBTQ protections and religious-liberty concerns.