California Senate passes ‘gay history’ textbook bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A landmark bill that would require public school textbooks in California to include “gay history” passed the California Senate May 11 by a mostly party-line vote of 22–15 and now heads to the Assembly.

The bill, SB 1437, would mandate that textbooks include “the contributions of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender to the total development of California and the United States.” It would also prevent teachers from speaking “adversely” about homosexuality. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a public position on the bill. Conservatives nationwide are watching the debate closely because California is the nation’s largest textbook purchaser, and conservatives fear the bill’s passage eventually could impact the rest of the country.  (TAB)