On July 13, 2011, California law makers passed a bill that will require public schools to teach LGBT history, making California the first state to do so.
According to Senator Mark Leno (D) told NPR’d Robert Siegel that California’ education code required “that the role and contributions of African, Asian, Mexican, Native, European Americans, women and other traditionally overlooked communities be included in our school curriculum.”
The curriculum will not be designed to “out” historical figures, but about addressing civil rights and making sure information is not censored or overlooked.
Leno cited a case to Siegel that happened in 2008 at E.O. Green School in California when 14-year-old Brandon McInerney shot 15-year-old Lawrence “Larry” Fobes King because he was “too girly”. McInerney was charged with premeditated murder with enhancements of use of a firearm and a hate crime.
By teaching both heterosexual and LGBT students, tolerance and understanding may be new lessons learned in the classroom.
Leno said that education codes require the teaching of Martin Luther King Jr., an African-American man who fought valiantly for everyone’s civil rights and was assassinated for his efforts. Therefore Harvey Milk should be taught because he fought for all civil rights and was also assassinated.
“We’re currently teaching one, we’re censoring the other,” Leno said.
Local districts will be able to decide how the curriculum is implemented, and so far a grade level has not been determined to start the education.
Leno, who wrote the bill, said explained that new textbooks will not be released for the next few years, but the law will go into effect in January.
