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BY LEXA DECKERT
ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO
You're watching multisource video news analysis from Newsy
There’s a whole new branch of classroom history -- gay history -- and California plans to teach it in public schools.
Officially -- it’s called state Senate Bill 48.
Now sitting on California Governor Jerry Brown’s desk -- awaiting signature.
The Bay Area Reporter has the details...
“[the bill] amends the state Education Code to require that schools teach about LGBT people's role in – and contributions to – the economic, political, and social development of California... (it) also prohibits classroom instruction and school-sponsored activities that promote a discriminatory bias on the basis of sexual orientation, and requires that ...instructional material used in California adhere to the bill's requirements.”
The bill has sparked fierce debate across California and the nation. Fox News interviews both sides...
CON: “In the past history was taught about what people accomplished, it didn’t focus on their sexuality -- what they did in the bedroom -- and yet that is what this legislation will impose on every public school in the state of California -- dealing with heterosexuality, homosexual role models, transgender role models. All the way down to the kindergarten level.”
PRO: “We should not be afraid to teach our children of the broad diversity of human experience. It’s not going away... it’s always been with us. We have different kinds of people -- they are under law to be treated equally. Why would we not want to teach our children this?”
Opponents of the measure-- like the president of a Web site called savecalifornia.com-- liken the measure to propaganda.
“May this brash attack upon children's innocence finally motivate parents to remove their children from the government school system... SB 48 would be the most in-your-face brainwashing yet...”
Supporters say the measure is about all people being visible and feeling safe. KGO-TV interviews one boy who wishes the bill would’ve been around when he was still in school...
BOY: “I’ve been bullied for multiple years...”
REPORTER: “Javier was bullied at school for being gay -- the recent high school graduate thinks it would have made a difference to read about historical gay figures in school books.”
BOY: “It probably would have let me know that, ya know, it doesn’t have to be so crappy for me, it doesn’t have to be where I’m alone.”
In the midst of the heated debate -- there’s confusion about what exactly the bill includes. NBC reports...
“Although the legislation does not specify any specific blanket requirements for curriculum, there is speculation that the history of civil rights activists like Harvey Milk, one of California’s first openly gay politicians, would be included in classroom material.”
A side note. Even if the bill is signed, California is so broke, it can’t afford text book changes until the 2015-2016 school year. Gov. Brown has 12 days to make his final decision on the measure.
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