August 16, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – Beginning in 2020, more states will now include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) history in their public school curriculums.
Illinois just joined California, New Jersey, and Colorado in mandating the teaching of LGBT History, while the Department of Education in Maryland has just signed on to include gays, lesbians and transgenders who are viewed as historically underrepresented in lesson plans.
The Illinois legislation which was signed into law by Democratic Governor J. B. Pritzker takes effect next year, and mandates that history classes “include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State.”
Known as HB 246, the measure passed by a comfortable 60-42 margin back in March, largely along party lines, with three Democrats joining Republicans in opposition to the proposed legislation. No Republicans voted in favor of the bill.
Textbooks purchased with state funding must likewise cover the roles and contributions of LGBT individuals and must in no way discriminate against any sexual orientation.
Earlier this year, one Illinois legislator said the mandate for LGBT school lessons was “Indoctrination, not history.”
“Forcing that information on five-year-olds and elementary school children is more of an effort of indoctrination than of learning history about individuals who accomplished important discoveries in science or created great works of art,” said Rep. Darren Bailey.