All Things are Not Created Equal- Nor Should They Be!

State Senate Endorses Teaching of Gays' Historical Achievements

By Jordan Rau, Times Staff Writer May 12, 2006 SACRAMENTO — Saying more role models could help reduce the social estrangement and high suicide rates of gay and lesbian students, the state Senate voted Thursday to require that the historical contributions of homosexuals in the United States be taught in California schools.

Apparently the first of its kind nationwide, the measure passed with no Republican support. It must also be approved by the Assembly and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has taken no position on it. California's Legislature last year became the first to authorize gay marriage, but Schwarzenegger vetoed the measure.

If passed, the textbook bill could have national implications. California is a huge portion of the textbook market, where it often sets trends, and many publishers put out a specific edition for the state that others can also use.

Textbooks meeting the bill's requirements would not be incorporated into California classrooms until 2012. Social science courses would then include "an age-appropriate study" of the "role and contributions" that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have made to the "economic political and social development" of California and the United States.

"Age appropriate"? I wonder what that will be. In college, we called it an upper division elective social studies course- like gay issues 101.

Schools are already required to teach the historical and social roles of blacks, women, Native Americans, Latinos, Asians and other ethnic groups.

I think if someone contributes to American society, then in proportion to the actual significance of the contribution, that person should be mentioned and talked about; but not because he is black...a "she"....an American Indian...Latino...Asian....or because of his sexual orientation. Just celebrate the accomplishment; and only celebrate his ethnicity (or sexual orientation) as relevant, if it played a vital role in his accomplishment, such as the person overcoming prejudice in order to achieve it . Other than that, quit fixating on race and sexual preference. Those distract, and do nothing except draw attention to superficial matters. Do I go around celebrating my hero, Theodore Roosevelt, because of his heterosexuality? Or because he was larger-than-life, accomplishing great things?

Don't those on the liberal side of this issue always preach about wanting a "colorblind world"? Then stop making race an issue!

"Even though we passed an anti-harassment bill seven years ago, it's still pretty obvious that there's a hostile environment for kids who are gay or lesbian — or even thought to be gay or lesbian," said Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), the bill's author and one of six openly gay legislators. "Part of that stems from the fact that nobody reads about any positive examples."

Social conservatives responded harshly to the Senate's action.

"Happy Mothers Day, California," said a statement issued by Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, a Sacramento group. "By passing SB 1437, Democrat politicians have declared war on mothers and fathers and their children."

The bill passed the Senate 22 to 15, with all 14 Republicans opposed. Democrat Dean Florez of Shafter voted against the bill, and two of his colleagues, Michael Machado of Linden and Denise Ducheny of San Diego, abstained, which effectively count as "no" votes.

Sen. Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) called the bill "dangerous" and "insidious" because it lumps sexual orientation — something he said was a "cultural or behavioral lifestyle" — together with race and sex, which are biological.He also said there was no reason for a textbook to point out historical figures' sexual orientation when "their contribution to history has nothing to do with their sexual proclivities."

Kuehl's bill would make the state Board of Education responsible for integrating the subject into curricula. The legislation does not specify what should be included or at what grade level the new material should be taught. Advocates said subjects might include the 1978 assassination of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Geoffrey Kors, executive director of the gay-rights group Equality California, said textbooks might also specify the sexual orientation of well-known Americans such as writer Langston Hughes. Kors said that when the state Board of Education approved the latest social science curriculum in 2003, his group asked unsuccessfully for gay issues to be included. "If you're teaching social movements in schools, and you talk about the United Farm Workers and Cesar Chavez, and you talk about the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King, and you talk about the women's suffrage movement, to leave out the gay rights movement seems glaring," Kors said.

What is it with this form of narcissism? That everyone needs to feel special? It's the concept of "equality", run amuck! Certainly the history of blacks in America is an important one; and Cesar Chavez should have a mention in American studies. But the amount of time devoted to them should be in proportion to the actual overall contribution to American history, in general. Not a handout, to make people feel better about themselves. As Morgan Freeman said on 60 Minutes, "black history is American history" when he was prodded by Morley Shafer on why he was not in support of Black History Month. "You're going to relegate my history to a month?!"By this route of thinking, if we're going to indulge it, every single "group" in society- whether based on "race", class, sexual orientation, zodiac affiliation (I'm a Pisces-American....all persecuted Pisces unite! Pisces rights now!), and whatnots, would deserve equal representation in the history books so that no single "group" has a bigger share of the history book pie than the other. Utter stuff and nonsense, wouldn't you say?If George Washington gets immediate name recognition and a bigger share of the history books than say, a Langston Hughes, then it's because of the enormity of his role in our history- not because of his "whiteness" or his "heterosexual" marriage.It's amazing that this yearning for validation extends all the way into stretching history to fit a political agenda, such as trying to claim that Abraham Lincoln was gay. Apparently, legislation will also do away with sex-specific terms in the schoolbooks as well. How stupid is this?!So, tomorrow, can I still say "Happy Mother's Day", or must it be "Happy Parent Day?" How gay is that?