The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act (SB 48), by including fair and accurate information about the rich and diverse history of LGBT people in instructional materials, will enrich the learning experiences of all students and promote an atmosphere of safety and respect in California schools.
SB 48 was authored by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and co-sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network.
Studies have shown that inclusion of LGBT people in instructional materials is linked to greater student safety and lower rates of bullying.
In schools where the contributions of the LGBT community are included in educational instruction, bullying declined by over half and LGBT students were more likely to feel they have an opportunity to make positive contributions at school.
“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 Roland Palencia, Equality California executive director. “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.
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i have to admit i have mixed feelings about this bill... i'm always hesitant to force any curriculum upon a school system and tend to believe that history defines itself, without such mandates. can you imagine civil rights simply being omitted from history of the 1960s today? i'd like to believe that as queer equality continues to become the norm, so will its place in courses. to force gay rights history on elementary school kids seems overtly political.
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