Including gay history in textbooks will help fight bullying, California senator says

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Openly gay state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill today that would require public school materials to include the historical contributions of gay people as a way to fight bullying.

Leno's Senate Bill 48 is similar to a proposal that was approved by the Legislature in 2006 but vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Most textbooks don't include any historical information about the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) movement, which has great significance to both California and U.S. history," Leno said in a press release. Leno was recently named to prominent leadership as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

Leno added: "Our collective silence on this issue perpetuates negative stereotypes of LGBT people and leads to increased bullying of young people."

The bill's aim is to work information about historical figures and events into materials that are up for regular review and revision by state public school authorities.

To read the complete article, visit www.sacbee.com.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This is why a 13 year old from Ukraine can come to the US and be double promoted to 10th grade 2 months after arriving. Our students are two years behind others because they are studying "gay History" and "Black History" instead of HISTORY.

I am all for Gays having equal rights, no problem. I really do not care if Thomas Jefferson was gay. He made history.

California has pretty much ruined itself and it is only going to get worse. Anyone that can will be moving out, anyone that can't will expect someone else to pick up the tab. Teach Gay history in California? Why not? It will reduce the competition in the job pool for MY kids. Good news.

[Jenn! 918]

I really don't think that's going to help the problem. If anything, it will exacerbate it.

[^_^ 5,021]

Gay history sounds kinda gay to me. As if history wasn't already gay enough, what with the gays of Sparta and those effeminate looking Englishmen of the colonial era.

[Dan and Judy 614]

This is why a 13 year old from Ukraine can come to the US and be double promoted to 10th grade 2 months after arriving. Our students are two years behind others because they are studying "gay History" and "Black History" instead of HISTORY.

I am all for Gays having equal rights, no problem. I really do not care if Thomas Jefferson was gay. He made history.

California has pretty much ruined itself and it is only going to get worse. Anyone that can will be moving out, anyone that can't will expect someone else to pick up the tab. Teach Gay history in California? Why not? It will reduce the competition in the job pool for MY kids. Good news.

I dont think Thomas Jefferson was gay. but he was sleeping with his property when he wrote that stuff about all men being created equal.That property bore him a son who automatically became

the property of Jeffeson also. If any of the slaves read his declaration they may have been tempted to kill some masters. Then Jefferson would have been hung by the "americans" for inciting the

rebellion of Slaves"

[The_Dude 1,142]

Forcing homophobes to learn about gay people's contribution to society and history won't do anything but galvanize their irrational hatred.

[Dan and Judy 614]

Forcing homophobes to learn about gay people's contribution to society and history won't do anything but galvanize their irrational hatred.

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christmas is just around the corner so please answer asap

Dan

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Black History, Latino History, Gay History, etc... all need to be eradicated from text books, from national holidays, etc...

AMERICAN HISTORY is what we need.

The last time I checked, your race/sexual orientation wasn't an attribute requirement to be an American.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Black History, Latino History, Gay History, etc... all need to be eradicated from text books, from national holidays, etc...

AMERICAN HISTORY is what we need.

The last time I checked, your race/sexual orientation wasn't an attribute requirement to be an American.

So you'd eradicate the Holocaust from history books?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Black History, Latino History, Gay History, etc... all need to be eradicated from text books, from national holidays, etc...

AMERICAN HISTORY is what we need.

The last time I checked, your race/sexual orientation wasn't an attribute requirement to be an American.

I will agree with you on your first point. But that being said, the curriculum that our children are subjected too needs to be re-examined to reflect reality as opposed to the delusional version some textbooks indicate. Just look at Texas' state board of education. They should all be shot in the head for trying to introduce creationism into public schools and to suggest to textbook publishers that they should diminish the contributions of other cultures while playing up the role of Americans. They need an education, not a snowjob.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

So you'd eradicate the Holocaust from history books?

Explaining reasons why humans committed atrocities against other humans is something that needs to be told, sure... but focusing on that this "black person" did this or that "jew" person did that, only adds to animosity in society.

John Baker is John Baker... Not Christian Fundamentalist John Baker....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Explaining reasons why humans committed atrocities against other humans is something that needs to be told, sure... but focusing on that this "black person" did this or that "jew" person did that, only adds to animosity in society.

John Baker is John Baker... Not Christian Fundamentalist John Baker....

Who said anything about how the history is told? The argument is whether historical persecution and injustice towards a specific segment of people (in this case, gays) should be taught in history classes.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

If its actually a chapter or course called "Gay History" thats pretty stupid IMO. However any in depth study of the Greeks will certainly cover homosexuality in history.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

If its actually a chapter or course called "Gay History" thats pretty stupid IMO. However any in depth study of the Greeks will certainly cover homosexuality in history.

same if we'd divulge into some Eatern History versus always only studying Western culture...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

If its actually a chapter or course called "Gay History" thats pretty stupid IMO. However any in depth study of the Greeks will certainly cover homosexuality in history.

Oh come on...think of the possibilities - hot dog eating contests, an outrageously colorful parade, all designed to indoctrinate young impressionable youth about an alternative lifestyle that is happy (gay).