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This week, the California legislature passed the FAIR Education Act, one of the most important bills our community has ever championed, and one that will make a huge difference in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. The FAIR (Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful) Education Act, authored by Senator Mark Leno, will ensure that LGBT people and issues are no longer left out of history and social science classes and that all students have an opportunity to learn about the contributions of LGBT people in our history and today.
Can you imagine what a difference it would have made in your life to have attended schools where LGBT people were fairly and accurately included in history and social studies classes?
Every day, LGBT youth are still bullied and harassed at school. No matter how many anti-harassment laws we pass, that will not change until what is taught at schools changes—until LGBT people are no longer erased from history and social studies as though we are too shameful or unworthy to be mentioned.
But as this historic bill awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature, anti-LGBT equality organizations are pulling out all the stops to urge the Governor to veto it, blocking the lessons from ever making it into textbooks and into classrooms.
We need to act fast to show the Governor that we care about this issue more than our opponents, and that LGBT contributions and history are vital. Contact the Governor’s Office today and tell him to sign the FAIR Education Act into law!
This bill—sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and drafted with the help of NCLR—will help make schools safer for LGBT youth. It will also help future generations understand LGBT people’s role in shaping history and society.
All students deserve to get a full picture of our history, including the remarkable achievements made by the LGBT community.
Thank you for your support.
In Solidarity,
Kate Kendell, Esq.
Executive Director
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