Credit: Levi ClancyCalifornia Democrats are advancing legislation that would formally recognize two Muslim holy days as state holidays and create special authorization for public schools to teach about their history.Meanwhile, nearly 12 million Catholics live in California, yet the state’s education code contains no comparable holiday-specific provision inviting officials to develop model curriculum exercises addressing the religious significance of Christmas, Easter or Good Friday.Assembly Bill 2017, introduced by San Francisco Democrat Assemblyman Matt Haney, would add Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to California’s list of official state holidays.The legislation passed the State Assembly in May by a lopsided 64-1 vote. Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio was the lone “no” vote.The official legislative record shows AB 2017 was amended in the Senate on August 27 and ordered to a third reading on August 28.It must still pass the Senate and return to the Assembly for concurrence before it can be delivered to Newsom.If enacted, AB 2017 would:Designate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as California state holidays.Permit K-12 public schools and community colleges to close for the holidays if local governing boards and employee unions agree.Allow state employees to use existing vacation, annual leave or compensatory time to observe the holidays.Allow public schools to conduct exercises “exploring the history” of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.Authorize the State Board of Education to develop a model curriculum guide related specifically to the two Muslim holidays.The bill would not automatically close schools, courts, government offices or private businesses.Earlier versions contained even more controversial language permitting schools to conduct exercises “acknowledging and celebrating the meaning and importance” of the two Islamic holidays.After critics questioned why California public schools would be explicitly encouraged to “celebrate” religious holidays, lawmakers quietly softened the language. The latest version now describes the exercises as “exploring the history” of Eid.But the special statutory authorization and invitation for a state-created model curriculum remain.California Family Council Vice President Greg Burt previously challenged the original language, asking, “What happened to neutrality? It doesn’t make any sense.”Burt noted that California school policies typically allow objective teaching about religion but prohibit schools from sponsoring religious celebrations. Many school districts have also erased the words “Christmas” and “Easter” from their calendars, replacing them with the sanitized labels “winter break” and “spring break.” Fox News previously reported on the controversy.Christmas Day is already recognized as a state holiday, and the education code references Christmas and Easter recesses. But there is no parallel provision in Section 37220.7 authorizing special classroom exercises or a state model curriculum about the Christian meaning of Christmas, the Crucifixion on Good Friday, or the Resurrection celebrated on Easter Sunday.According to the California Catholic Conference, nearly 12 million Catholics, approximately 30 percent of the state’s population, live in California.Haney and the bill’s sponsors, including the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, argue that the legislation will prevent Muslim students and employees from being penalized for observing their faith.“No student should have to choose between celebrating one of the holiest days of their faith and showing up to school,” Haney said when announcing the legislation.When Muslims request recognition, Sacramento Democrats draft a state holiday, authorize specialized classroom exercises and invite the State Board of Education to develop a curriculum guide.When Christian parents ask schools to acknowledge the religious foundation of Christmas or Easter, they are frequently lectured about “separation of church and state.”The Gateway Pundit previously reported on AB 2017 in July, when the measure cleared the Assembly and began moving through the Democrat-controlled Senate.California Democrats apparently believe religious accommodation is essential, but only when the religion being accommodated fits their political agenda.If Sacramento lawmakers truly support religious equality, they should apply the same rules to every faith instead of constructing another politically favored carveout.The post CALIFORNIA DOUBLE STANDARD: Democrats Advance Bill Recognizing Two Muslim Holidays and Authorizing Eid Lessons in Public Schools — No Matching Provision for Christmas, Easter or Good Friday appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.