New (Calif.) bill requires gay history in textbooks to fight bullying

[Newsjock]

Source: Sacramento Bee

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."

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/12/sen-leno-hopes-gay-history-bil.html

[alp227]

1. expect a mass exodus of religious conservatives.

The truth, that gays actually contribute to history and society and aren't just those child-molesting pervs, hurts, doesn't it?

[4lbs]

11. I have no problem with such an exodus. It will make California even more of a blue state.

:D

[Drale]

2. Many students don't know who the first president was

do they expect them to actually read about gay history?

[Creative]

4. How true...but they do know quite a bit about sex.

[fascisthunter]

3. That oughta rid public schools of right wingers

just kidding

[Bigmack]

5. I don't know WHAT the solution

to this horrific problem IS, but IF we are even a slightly caring people, we have to do SOMETHING, and I suspect that only LOTS of somethings will help on this issue. It is absolutely tragic that our gay sons and daughters are made to suffer at the hands of bullies...and just plain ignorant people. As a retired teacher who had gay students come out to her, it hurts my heart to see this suffering. Reach out if you can. Help if you can. Ms Bigmack

[left on green only]

10. I wish that every teacher was like you are

It would be the best chance that our society and our future could ever hope for.

[Shallah Kali]

6. Lessons on gay history cut homophobic bullying in north London school

Lessons on gay history cut homophobic bullying in north London school

• Abuse and harassment 'more or less eliminated'
• Classes to be shared with teachers around country


http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/oct/26/gay-history-lessons-bullying-schools

[MadBadger]

7. Guess they arent ordering text books from Texas then

[bullwinkle428]

8. GOOD. Maybe some of these little bastages will think twice

before tossing around "gay" and other more offensive epithets as general insults!

(cough*WillowPalin*cough)

[David Zephyr]

9. The Golden State.

!

[Odin2005]

12. The bigots are gonna throw a fit over this!

:evilgrin: