By BTL staff
SACRAMENTO- Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that makes teaching about LGBT individuals in social science lessons mandatory.
The California Legislature passed the bill last week, but many were unsure if Gov. Brown would sign the bill into law.
The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful Education Act, also known as SB 48, was authored by Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and co-sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network.
"Today marks a monumental victory for the LGBT civil rights movement as the contributions of diverse LGBT community will no longer be erased from history," said Equality California Executive Director Roland Palencia. "Thanks to the FAIR Education Act, California students, particularly LGBT youth, will find new hope and inspiration and experience a more welcoming learning environment that will embrace them."
"There is no room for discrimination of any kind in our classrooms, our communities or our state," said Dean E. Vogel, president of the California Teachers Association. "We believe that curricula should address the common values of the society, promote respect for diversity and cooperation, and prepare students to compete in, and cope with a complex and rapidly evolving society. SB 48 does that by helping to ensure that curricular materials include the contributions of persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans to the development of California and United States."
Among the diverse supporters of the FAIR Education Act include: Adolescent Health Working Group, Asian Americans for Civil Rights & Equality, Asian/Pacific Islander Youth Promoting Advocacy & Leadership, California Language Teachers Association, California Psychological Association, California Teachers Association, California Faith for Equality, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc., City of Oakland, City of West Hollywood, Disability Rights California, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Unified School District, Public Advocates, San Francisco Unified School District, California Church IMPACT, Our Family Coalition, National Center for Lesbian Rights, The Trevor Project, School for Integrated Academics & Technologies and more.
