The law that mandates the inclusion of LGBTQ history in public education curriculum was officially enacted in Illinois on July 1st, 2020.
For greater inclusion and to combat school harassment against LGBTQ students, the contributions and roles of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and we must include queer people in the American history curriculum at Illinois public schools.
The curriculum will have a “positive effect on students’ self-image and make their peers more accepting,” as stated by Equality Illinois, the state’s LGBTQ civil rights organization.
Senator and sponsor of the bill Heather Steans also said at the time of the vote last year that “one of the best ways to overcome intolerance is through education and exposure to different people and viewpoints.”
“An inclusive curriculum will not only teach an accurate version of history but also promote acceptance of the LGBTQ community,” she added.
For example, the new curriculum will include Sally Ride, the first American woman and the first lesbian to have been in space.
Il will also mention the Society for Human Rights, the country’s first LGBTQ rights organization founded in Chicago in 1924.
Governor JB Pritzker signed the bill into law in August 2019. The law has now come into force and will take effect in Illinois public schools as soon as they resume classes for the 2020-21 school year.
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