Diane Macedo of Fox News reports:
The California Legislature could soon pass a bill that would require school textbooks and teachers to incorporate information on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans into their curriculum.
The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act, or SB48, which mimics a bill previously vetoed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, made it one step closer to becoming law Tuesday after being approved by the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee.
The bill, introduced by state Sen. Mark Leno, could have a nationwide impact if passed because California is such a big buyer of textbooks that publishers often incorporate the state’s standards into books distributed to other states.
9 Comments
What is so wrong with presenting the achievements of LGBT citizens in various spheres of life, whether be it science, sports, arts, politics? We've always been there. We've always made significant contributions: it's only fair that those be recognized.
My understanding is that Texas actually has more influence than California, but that both are seeing their influence on the rest of the country wane. New technology apparently makes it easier for publishers to change textbooks for the demands of a specific state's BOE.
During the textbook battle in Texas last year, however, a Texas A&M education professor was quoted as saying that Texas determines '46 or 47 other states.' If that is true, we can simply be thankful that it has this outsized influence and is conservative.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/magazine/14texbooks-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
Lynn, people can be celebrated for their achievements without touting their bedroom habits. Let everyone be celebrated as part of the great human race. If they've done something noteworthy, I have no problem with celebrating their achievements, but simply celebrating them for what they accomplish between bedposts is ludicrous and inappropriate.
Who were these individual gay people that made these achievements, and how were they related to homosexuality?
Some accomplished historical figures were pedophiles. Should the textbooks address those peoples' sexual proclivities, as well?
Silly, silly, silly.
The real question is, why do we have to identify the achievements of individuals as part of a group? Personal achievement is personal achievement. Who cares what group or groups the person belongs to?
That's right, Don. I don't remember anyone teaching me about the sexual practices of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or Albert Einstien when I was growing up.
Comparing homosexuality to pedophilia is an irrational bridge. If you think homosexuals and pedophiles are in the same catergory, this debate is beyond you.
And by mentioned that Founding Father A. Hamilton was a (married) homosexual doesn't tout his sex life, just as mentioned G. Washington's wife doesn't tell me how frequently they had sex.
And the people that care about a minority group being represented are the parents of students who get bullied every day because of their sexual orientation.
And the point of the next textbook is not to relate the achievements of homosexuals to their homosexuality, but to show students that homosexuals have contributed to their country just as much as any one else.
And in some cases, a homosexuals orientation did have an effect on his work-for example Oscar Wilde's literature.
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