This document argues that LGBT history should be included in school curriculums. It notes that ignoring LGBT history can negatively impact students and increase bullying of LGBT youth. While some argue teaching LGBT history could promote homosexuality, the document counters that history education does not promote any sexuality. It acknowledges that some states have laws banning LGBT history education but highlights recent progress in California requiring inclusion of LGBT contributions in textbooks and lessons. The document concludes by encouraging efforts to promote a less ignorant society through LGBT history education.

1. Including LGBT History
in Our Curriculum
By Emily Dorian

2. Big Elephant in the Room
● LGBT history is the elephant in the room
because it is intentionally ignored
● Ignoring History can hold strong effects
● There are major historical events
like the Stonewall Riots that contributed to
US history

3. Effects of Ignoring LGBT
History
● Increase/continued bullying
● Ignorance/lack of education
● Center for Disease Control finds:
“A nationally representative study of adolescents in
grades 7–12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more
than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their
heterosexual peers.”

4. What the Naysayers think
• Waste Taxpayer money!!
• Teaching LGBT
history will promote
homosexuality, and eventually
lead to beastiality!

5. Kindly Disagree to you Naysayer
● We want successful students. Taxes won’t be
wasted.
• Successful students=better economy because
better fucntioning students
• History doesn’t promote a certain sexuality.

6. Legal Barriers
Some states hold laws that forbid schools to teach LGBT History.
For example: Arizona
“No district shall include in its course of study instruction which:
1. Promotes a homosexual life-style.
2. Portrays homosexuality as a positive alternative
lifestyle.
3. Suggests that some methods of sex are safe
methods of homosexual sex.” ARS § 15-716.

7. Thank Goodness for California
● Senate Bill 48: is a California law which compels
the inclusion of the political, economic, and
social contributions of persons with disabilities
and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people into educational textbooks and the social
studies curricula in California public schools by
amending the California Education Code

8. Promoting a Less Ignorant
Society
•There are ways to affect policy for the inclusion of
LGBT history in classrooms
-Contact local politicians
-Speak up about any discrimination

9. Sources:
http://www.lambdalegal.org/dont-erase-us/laws
http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/calif-senate-
passes-bill-to-teach-gay-history/