Gay history will soon be included in California's schools curriculum.
The state has become the first in the nation to require textbooks and history classes to cover the contributions of gay, lesbian and transgendered Americans.
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law Wednesday, just a week after the Democratic-majority Legislature passed the measure on a party-line vote.
"History should be honest," Brown said in a statement Thursday. "This bill revises existing laws that prohibit discrimination in education and ensures that the important contributions of Americans from all backgrounds and walks of life are included in our history books."
The landmark law, which was authored by Democratic Sen. Mark Leno, also bans material that reflects adversely on gays.
State textbooks will not reflect the change in curriculum until they are updated in 2013, though the Golden State's legislation will take effect in January.
The measure has been met with vehement opposition from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups charging that the law will expose students to material that some parents will find questionable.
Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com, a conservative family group, said parents will be forced to put their children in private school to avoid "immoral indoctrination."
"Jerry Brown has trampled the parental rights of the overwhelming majority of California fathers and mothers who don't want their children to be sexually brainwashed at school," Thomasson said.
Local school boards will be able to decide how to implement the mandate and at what grade level the instruction will begin once the law goes into effect.
California already mandates that public schools teach students about African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians and other minority groups.
The new law will also add people with disabilities to the list of groups that schools must include in their lesson plans.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/07/15/2011-07-15_california_passes_landmark_law_requiring_school_to_teach_gay_history.html#ixzz1SKgJreCN
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