Welcome to Bizarro Amerika!

Why not? (http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/04/15/Gay-history-bill-gains-in-California/UPI-77141302889380/) We teach history for The Blacks?

Gotta laugh at the comments:

http://nation.foxnews.com/gay-history/2011/04/14/ca-bill-mandates-gay-history-classes

If the class is like Gay Days at Disney...I'd sign up.

The AP reports that SB48, aka the California bill, passed the state legislature. Lawmakers in Sacramento voted 49-25 in support of the bill which would make California public schools the first in the country to weave lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender achievements into social studies subjects. Gov. Jerry Brown will soon decide on SB48. The proof is here:California gay history bill passes state assembly (http://www.newsytype.com/8569-california-gay-history-bill)

when a state goes deep into the red...

they really pull out all of the stops...

it seems like common sense...

awareness is important...advocacy however should be done elsewhere

That's the kicker...when and where does just sighting, or in this case directly pointing out, that there's been omissions...become advocacy.  Does the fine line exist when a portion of society sees the omission as unnecessary or even unwarranted, based on cultural/religious standards?  It gets rather involved very quickly.

I will say, in my personal opinion, that the exclusion is directly correlated to religious views of acceptability...because under a secular dynamic...there's no reason the inclusion of history, as it relates to key figures who were homosexual, should be omitted.  

If it should pass, I do foresee however, that an effort will be made (perhaps not overtly, but with intention) to emphasize that individuals who were "unsavory", in history who were/are homosexual, are somehow MORE egregious BECAUSE of their homosexuality, than like "unsavory" figures who were/are heterosexual.

It should be interesting to see.

At one time in the history of mankind children were taught that the Earth was flat.

At one time in the history of mankind children were taught that man and dinosaur walked alongsuide each other.

At one time in the history of mankind children were taught that negroes and women were inferior.

Enlightenment is  glorious!

Unfortunately, approximately one-half of Americans today still believe at least two of the three statements above.

If the current trend towards unregulated evangelical homeschooling continues, we'll see  more and more believing again that all three statements are true.

In the earth's secret history that I'm reading slowly, they mention how in ancient graves they've found same sex put together in the same way that man and wife often want to be buried alongside each other. Implication being that it was not a big deal back then.

Great news!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2011/07/15/MNL61KAHVQ.DTL

For those of you on FB, Shannon picked up on an Orlando Sentinel article on this...

You would not believe the incredible homophobia of some of his followers! If you don't have FB, read the comments below. Fucking sad...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/todaysbuzz/os-poll-gay-lesbian-american-history-schools-072611,0,672129,post.poll

Shannon: I asked you to come over here because it's difficult to stomach the comments from the idiots who follow you on FB.

You know damn well that the "theory of creationism" just came dangerously close to passage in your home state of Texas and is supported by a majority of Republican candidates for the presidency.

Shame on you for promotong homophobia...

Howey, what does one's sexual orientation have to do with their contributions to history? Read my previous posts. If you contributed to history, we teach about it. What does it matter that you are gay? Gay people have contributed to history since the beginning of time, valuable contributions. Does their sexuality make their contributions any more or less historic? I don't care that Tennesee Williams was gay, I do however value his literary works. Why does everyone have to have their sexuality as an identifier next to their
name?
You know me Howey. I may be conservative but I support gay rights, gay marriage, gay adoption etc. But to teach "gay history" is idiotic, divisive and counter productive.

I didn't know that five of the people you listed were gay. I'm willing to wager that a hetero wouldn't realize even more than that were, either. Other than Billie Jean King, of course.  ;)

I think the problem with this is that you and others are looking at this through your own eyes, minds, and prejudices...while I look at it like enlightening the young listener to these persons accomplishments in spite of the societal stigma of their sexuality.

For example:

"Booker T. Washington was a prominent black leader of a century ago."

"Martina Navritolova was a lesbian tennis player who was one of the world's greatest."

The crux of those statements is not directed at you, me, or those who follow your words. It's directed to the young man or woman facing the stigma of their skin color or their own sexuality and the societal bigotry that comes with it while at the same time adjusting and coping with young adulthood. The realization that "Hey, if that famous person was so successful and happened to be gay, maybe I can be too." I know I certainly could have appreciated it when I was growing up.

It's about role models for our youth. There's nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is the ignorance of those refuse to accept anything but the "norm".

Really Howey? "The Blacks"??!! You racist!!

lol...that was about the time The Donald called them that.  ;)

Sarcasm, my friend, sarcasm...

Your own home state (thankfully) shot down a proposal by Gov. Perry to do exactly that, Shannon. Other states may succeed...

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-leaders-debate-teaching-creationism-schools-011606986.html

only to people who have a fear/hate of homosexuals.. to those who don't, it's no different than teaching who Harriet Tubman was to the black community.. shouldn't young black women have a 'hero' to look up? or should we just find teaching 'black history' as idiotic,divisive and counter productive as well?

unfortunately, gays have been (and still are) are treated abhorrently by certain people in this country. Imagine being a young gay person and thinking the whole world hates you.. you know this because you can read the signs the homophobes put up, you can read the comments sections on 'gay-related' articles.. you know that in the 80's AIDS was largely ignored by the President of the United States because it was just a 'gay-disease'.. there is nothing but 'shame' associated with 'gay' in many many parts of this country.. so why can't we give a section of our culture it's rightful respect? why can't the gays have someone to look at as a 'hero' the same way we whites have Neil Armstrong, or the blacks have MLK? 

It doesn't divide us to know more about them, it divide us when we know less and hide the great ones away in the closest just because a few people can't get over their own sexual problems so they have to 'hate' on everyone elses..

think about it.. the more gays history is learned the more some people will go "well they can't all be bad because so and so was gay and that person was truly amazing!"

nah, hiding it is for small-minded people who are scared of knowledge.. and we should never fear knowledge