Under California Governor Jerry Brown, the Los Angeles Unified School District has implemented a plan for the inclusion of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender groups in history textbooks and curriculums.  The law will allow students to coexist in an environment of intellectual equality and ultimately assist society in the advancement towards a more tolerant and open-minded America.

This curriculum will be enacted in each grade level from elementary school through high school. One of the main objectives of a history course is to educate students on events that have influenced the  development of the nation.  No student is too young to gain a comprehensive, age-appropriate history lesson.

Learning about prejudice and its consequences can also teach students how to avoid similar, detrimental actions in the future.  Adolescents’ theories and ideals are oftentimes products of their environment.  Therefore, if teachers set an example through lessons that encourage acceptance, students will more thoroughly be able to develop individual opinions founded upon a positive attitude.  Students will take the information they learn about LBGT culture and apply it to all areas of their lives.

LBGT history additionally deserves to be recognized because it is necessary to a comprehensive education and has influenced the shaping of modern society.  In current debates, many politicians are heatedly discussing gay marriage and the Defense of Marriage Act.  Just as the victims of slavery and the Holocaust have been recognized and acknowledged for their struggles and triumphs, prominent LBGT figures should also be highlighted for their contributions to society.

“The intent of this bill is to promote tolerance for all grade levels and create an outlet for issues to be discussed in a constructive manner,” said AP Government teacher Lance Novak.

Knowledge of LBGT history will also help to increase tolerance and acceptance among students.  In less liberal communities where preconceived prejudices are abundant, it is especially important to implement LBGT learning early in a student’s education to counteract the prevailing intolerances individuals may have.

In a psychological study of 484 students at six community colleges conducted by Dr. Karen Franklin, 18 percent of men interviewed admitted that they had committed physical violence or threats against men and or women they perceived to be gay or lesbian.

Once students are exposed to the truth, they will be less susceptible to stereotypes that they hear outside of the classroom.  Most importantly, the law will result in better relationships between peers as well as a healthier environment at school and eventually in society as a whole.

“This law will hopefully lead to less judgmental behavior [and] less bullying by those who do not understand or are ignorant,” said Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender or Questioning CHS Club President Grady Schroeder. “It will also help those who may have LBGTQ feelings to see how they fit in with the vastly supportive LBGTQ community.”

The prejudices students acquire in elementary through high school will remain with them as they develop and eventually assume leadership roles within the nation.  By eradicating the prejudices of previous generations and allowing children to reach their full intellectual capacity, the law ensures that future leaders of the United States will be equipped with the tools to bring equality to the nation. •