California Senate Passes Landmark LGBT Education Bill

[EFerrari]

California Senate Passes Landmark LGBT Education Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2011
2:20 PM

Legislation sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network aims to stop discriminatory education and promote school safety

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - April 14 - Today a bill that would require schools to fairly and accurately portray the historic contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in social science instruction passed the Senate in a 23-14 vote. The Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act (SB 48), authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), would also add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s existing anti-discrimination protections that prohibit bias in school activities, instruction and instructional materials.

Studies have shown that inclusion of LGBT people in instructional materials is linked to greater student safety and lower rates of bullying. The bill is co-sponsored by Equality California and Gay-Straight Alliance Network.

The FAIR Education Act would bring classroom instruction into alignment with existing non-discrimination laws in California and would add LGBT to the existing list of underrepresented cultural and ethnic groups, which are covered by current law related to inclusion in textbooks and other instructional materials in schools. By including fair and accurate information about LGBT people and history in instructional materials, SB 48 will improve student safety, reduce bullying, enrich the learning experiences of all students, and promote an atmosphere of safety and respect in California schools.

“We thank the Senate for recognizing the need to educate students about the historic contributions of LGBT leaders to California and the struggle for LGBT equality,” said Jim Carroll, interim executive director of Equality California. “This legislation will ensure all students understand the diversity of our state and its history, and it will foster greater awareness, respect and safer schools for all students.”

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/04/14-13

[The Doctor.]

1. I'm picturing the media harpies now;

"California to Teach Gayness to Children!"

Or some such nonsense.

[EFerrari]

2. Let's see if they bring it.

Imo, they're learning that any such cr@p will be answered clearly and directly. :)

[The Doctor.]

3. OMG... So much stupid at FR.

Really, how can people be http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2704851/posts">this stupid?

[The Philosopher]

4. Wow

"I think suicide is a class that is needed. Why do we need to encourage this type of behavioral?"

"The only problem is that faggotry is not history but current events. Its history should be how the perversion was stamped out."

"'counter anti-gay stereotypes' Stereosytpes do not remain if there is not an element of truth to them."

"I would support this issue wholeheartedly if a) the instructors show rectal tears and the surgeries necessary to repair the damage b) teach the logarithmic increase in STD’s when the gay movement took hold c) show how a single gay man was able to infect hundreds of others and jump start the HIV epidemic and d) show the effects of HIV on the person and the relationship and the numbers that reflect gay versus straight incidences. Yes, teach the history but don't candy coat the facts. "

"As a former resident of kalifornistan, I got news for all yall. Faggot history and acceptance is already seared into schoolchildren’s minds out there. The fags are simply looking for more access to your children. That’s what it’s all about."

I read all that and think, "This is what you hear when a Republican says, 'I don't care what two consensual adults do behind closed doors...'"

[EFerrari]

6. Hard to tell which is more staggering, the ignorance or the stupidity.

Nice to hear that human garbage isn't littering my state, though.

[RKP5637]

5. Recommend!!! n/t

[RetiredTrotskyite]

7. The Haters at Huffington Post Are Going...

off the deep end with this one:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/14/gay-history-bill-california_n_849324.html

[The Doctor.]

8. LOL!

I swear, one day I'm going to run a study of individuals' 'Command of English correlation to political philosophy';

I think they should think about how this effects our kids and there thinking process.
And would this class really make are kids more polite? I don't think so.
Everyone gets teased. kids will be kids. I was teased all the time and I was well liked by everyone so know matter who you are you are you will always get made fun of or talked about thats just the way it is no one is perfect.

[Kurovski]

9. Geez. They could at least toss in some punctuation.

It reads like a script about cocaine addicts.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

10. OWWWWWW!

The stupid, it HURTS! Why is it that so many fundies cannot spell or use proper grammar, punctuation, or capitalization?

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. Wow. That is friggin' *visionary*. A kick and a belated R.

How'd this one get past me?!

California...... I love ya' . Leading the way ; just like in the old days.