SACRAMENTO — California moved another step closer to requiring the teaching of LGBT history in public schools, after legislation was approved in the full state Senate this week.
The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act, sponsored by openly gay Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), would require classroom text books and other instructional materials used in public schools to include the historical contributions LGBT people.
The bill, which passed by a vote of 23-14, would also add sexual orientation and gender identity to California’s anti-discrimination protections.
“Most textbooks don’t include any information about LGBT historical figures or the LGBT civil rights movement, which has great significance to both California and U.S. history,” Leno said in a release.
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The bill now heads to the Democratic-controlled state Assembly, where approval seems likely. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has not yet taken a position on the proposal.
