FAIR – ACCURATE – INCLUSIVE – RESPECTFUL
Join the 2020 #LGBTQHistorychallenge. See the calendar of events for LGBTQ History Month activities around the state.
This website is dedicated to “Teaching LGBTQ History” which primarily focuses on providing resources and materials that fulfill the requirements put forth by the FAIR Education Act with regards to LGBTQ history.
As Tom Adams, Deputy Superintendent of the California Department of Education once stated, “These standards are the floor, not the ceiling, for what we want to teach.” As the website and resources develop, we will be including lesson plans and materials that educators in California, and beyond, can use to teach about LGBTQ history in every time period.
The History of the FAIR Education Act
Teachers prepare to teach LGBT-Inclusive material
2018 – School districts across California review recommended texts, per processes guided by California Department Education Code, and decide which will be used for their school district. According to Cal Ed Facts, the state currently has 344 Unified school districts and 528 Elementary school districts serving over six million students.
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
2018 – FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition receives the José Sarria History Maker Award by San Francisco LGBT Pride.
State Commission approves LGBT-Inclusive Textbooks
2017 Late Summer: the state ’s Instructional Quality Commission approves and recommends LGBT-inclusive textbooks to the State Board of Education. Late Fall: State Board of Education approves LGBT-inclusive textbooks.
FAIR Education Act Coalition Rallies for Implementation
Our Family Coalition reconvenes the FAIR Education Act Coalition, adding Implementation to its title and mission, and leads intensive lobbying and support of the CA Dept of Ed through the remainder of the textbook review process.
CA history textbooks found lacking LGBT-Inclusivity
2017 – Spring: New state history textbooks reviewed by state panels, which for the first time are required to include LGBT history. Internal Dept of Ed review panels initially recommend textbooks found later by LGBTQ-inclusive ed advocates as sorely lacking.
California History-Social Science Framework updated
2016 – History-Social Science Framework updated based on recommendations. Includes LGBT History and LGBT Americans specifically in second, fourth, fifth, eighth, eleventh and twelfth-grade history curriculum. State Board of Education adopts revised History-Social Science Framework.
CDE uses Historians to review public comments
2015 – CDE requests funds to hire historians to review public comments. The state legislature allocates money to do so.
FAIR Education Act Coalition comes together
2014 – FAIR Education Act Coalition convened by Our Family Coalition and including representatives of the Committee on LGBT History, Equality California, GSA Network, ACLU of Southern California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Transgender Law Center, and Los Angeles LGBT Center. This group advocates and speaks at state meetings about the
Over 700 public comments are received by the CDE!
2014 – Over 700 public comments about the draft History-Social Science Framework received by the CDE.
Making the Framework Fair is published
2014 – Making the Framework Fair published by members of the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History, an affiliation of the American Historical Association. Lead authors: Professors Don Romesburg, Leila Rupp, and David Donahue.
History-Social Science Framework updating starts
2014 – Pursuant to Senate Bill 1540, the California State Department of Education (CDE) begins to update the state History – Social Science Framework.
FAIR Ed Act makes the California Education Code
FAIR Act enacted into the Education Code as of January 1.
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
2011 – FAIR Act passed in the legislature, 50-26; signed by Governor Brown in July.
SB 48: The FAIR Education Act is introduced
2010 – Senator Mark Leno introduced SB 48, “The FAIR Education Act,” in the California legislature. Courage Campaign, Equality California, GSA Network, Our Family Coalition, along with many other organizations and individual community members, advocated for its passage, both in public testimonies and in letters. For more information, visit: Mark Leno –
Legislation begins with Senator Sheila Kuehl
2006 – Senator Sheila Kuehl introduces SB 1437, “The Bias-Free Curriculum Act.” Passed legislature, but vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A different bill, SB 1441, the “Nondiscrimination in State Programs and Activities Act,” was signed into law that year, stipulating that state agencies and schools may not discriminate against homosexual people. For more information, visit:
An idea is born
2006 – Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, of GSA Network, conceives idea, solicits legislative support. For more information, visit here.
The History of the FAIR Education Act
Teachers prepare to teach LGBT-Inclusive material
2018 – School districts across California review recommended texts, per processes guided by California Department Education Code, and decide which will be used for their school district. According to Cal Ed Facts, the state currently has 344 Unified school districts and 528 Elementary school districts serving over six million students.
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
2018 – FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition receives the José Sarria History Maker Award by San Francisco LGBT Pride.
State Commission approves LGBT-Inclusive Textbooks
2017 Late Summer: the state ’s Instructional Quality Commission approves and recommends LGBT-inclusive textbooks to the State Board of Education. Late Fall: State Board of Education approves LGBT-inclusive textbooks.
FAIR Education Act Coalition Rallies for Implementation
Our Family Coalition reconvenes the FAIR Education Act Coalition, adding Implementation to its title and mission, and leads intensive lobbying and support of the CA Dept of Ed through the remainder of the textbook review process.
CA history textbooks found lacking LGBT-Inclusivity
2017 – Spring: New state history textbooks reviewed by state panels, which for the first time are required to include LGBT history. Internal Dept of Ed review panels initially recommend textbooks found later by LGBTQ-inclusive ed advocates as sorely lacking.
California History-Social Science Framework updated
2016 – History-Social Science Framework updated based on recommendations. Includes LGBT History and LGBT Americans specifically in second, fourth, fifth, eighth, eleventh and twelfth-grade history curriculum. State Board of Education adopts revised History-Social Science Framework.
CDE uses Historians to review public comments
2015 – CDE requests funds to hire historians to review public comments. The state legislature allocates money to do so.
FAIR Education Act Coalition comes together
2014 – FAIR Education Act Coalition convened by Our Family Coalition and including representatives of the Committee on LGBT History, Equality California, GSA Network, ACLU of Southern California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Transgender Law Center, and Los Angeles LGBT Center. This group advocates and speaks at state meetings about the
Over 700 public comments are received by the CDE!
2014 – Over 700 public comments about the draft History-Social Science Framework received by the CDE.
Making the Framework Fair is published
2014 – Making the Framework Fair published by members of the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History, an affiliation of the American Historical Association. Lead authors: Professors Don Romesburg, Leila Rupp, and David Donahue.
History-Social Science Framework updating starts
2014 – Pursuant to Senate Bill 1540, the California State Department of Education (CDE) begins to update the state History – Social Science Framework.
FAIR Ed Act makes the California Education Code
FAIR Act enacted into the Education Code as of January 1.
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
2011 – FAIR Act passed in the legislature, 50-26; signed by Governor Brown in July.
SB 48: The FAIR Education Act is introduced
2010 – Senator Mark Leno introduced SB 48, “The FAIR Education Act,” in the California legislature. Courage Campaign, Equality California, GSA Network, Our Family Coalition, along with many other organizations and individual community members, advocated for its passage, both in public testimonies and in letters. For more information, visit: Mark Leno –
Legislation begins with Senator Sheila Kuehl
2006 – Senator Sheila Kuehl introduces SB 1437, “The Bias-Free Curriculum Act.” Passed legislature, but vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A different bill, SB 1441, the “Nondiscrimination in State Programs and Activities Act,” was signed into law that year, stipulating that state agencies and schools may not discriminate against homosexual people. For more information, visit:
An idea is born
2006 – Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, of GSA Network, conceives idea, solicits legislative support. For more information, visit here.
The History of the FAIR Education Act
Teachers prepare to teach LGBT-Inclusive material
2018 – School districts across California review recommended texts, per processes guided by California Department Education Code, and decide which will be used for their school district. According to Cal Ed Facts, the state currently has 344 Unified school districts and 528 Elementary school districts serving over six million students.
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
2018 – FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition receives the José Sarria History Maker Award by San Francisco LGBT Pride.
State Commission approves LGBT-Inclusive Textbooks
2017 Late Summer: the state ’s Instructional Quality Commission approves and recommends LGBT-inclusive textbooks to the State Board of Education. Late Fall: State Board of Education approves LGBT-inclusive textbooks.
FAIR Education Act Coalition Rallies for Implementation
Our Family Coalition reconvenes the FAIR Education Act Coalition, adding Implementation to its title and mission, and leads intensive lobbying and support of the CA Dept of Ed through the remainder of the textbook review process.
CA history textbooks found lacking LGBT-Inclusivity
2017 – Spring: New state history textbooks reviewed by state panels, which for the first time are required to include LGBT history. Internal Dept of Ed review panels initially recommend textbooks found later by LGBTQ-inclusive ed advocates as sorely lacking.
California History-Social Science Framework updated
2016 – History-Social Science Framework updated based on recommendations. Includes LGBT History and LGBT Americans specifically in second, fourth, fifth, eighth, eleventh and twelfth-grade history curriculum. State Board of Education adopts revised History-Social Science Framework.
CDE uses Historians to review public comments
2015 – CDE requests funds to hire historians to review public comments. The state legislature allocates money to do so.
FAIR Education Act Coalition comes together
2014 – FAIR Education Act Coalition convened by Our Family Coalition and including representatives of the Committee on LGBT History, Equality California, GSA Network, ACLU of Southern California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Transgender Law Center, and Los Angeles LGBT Center. This group advocates and speaks at state meetings about the
Over 700 public comments are received by the CDE!
2014 – Over 700 public comments about the draft History-Social Science Framework received by the CDE.
Making the Framework Fair is published
2014 – Making the Framework Fair published by members of the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History, an affiliation of the American Historical Association. Lead authors: Professors Don Romesburg, Leila Rupp, and David Donahue.
History-Social Science Framework updating starts
2014 – Pursuant to Senate Bill 1540, the California State Department of Education (CDE) begins to update the state History – Social Science Framework.
FAIR Ed Act makes the California Education Code
FAIR Act enacted into the Education Code as of January 1.
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
2011 – FAIR Act passed in the legislature, 50-26; signed by Governor Brown in July.
SB 48: The FAIR Education Act is introduced
2010 – Senator Mark Leno introduced SB 48, “The FAIR Education Act,” in the California legislature. Courage Campaign, Equality California, GSA Network, Our Family Coalition, along with many other organizations and individual community members, advocated for its passage, both in public testimonies and in letters. For more information, visit: Mark Leno –
Legislation begins with Senator Sheila Kuehl
2006 – Senator Sheila Kuehl introduces SB 1437, “The Bias-Free Curriculum Act.” Passed legislature, but vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A different bill, SB 1441, the “Nondiscrimination in State Programs and Activities Act,” was signed into law that year, stipulating that state agencies and schools may not discriminate against homosexual people. For more information, visit:
An idea is born
2006 – Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, of GSA Network, conceives idea, solicits legislative support. For more information, visit here.
The History of the FAIR Education Act
Teachers prepare to teach LGBT-Inclusive material
2018 – School districts across California review recommended texts, per processes guided by California Department Education Code, and decide which will be used for their school district. According to Cal Ed Facts, the state currently has 344 Unified school districts and 528 Elementary school districts serving over six million students.
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
2018 – FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition receives the José Sarria History Maker Award by San Francisco LGBT Pride.
State Commission approves LGBT-Inclusive Textbooks
2017 Late Summer: the state ’s Instructional Quality Commission approves and recommends LGBT-inclusive textbooks to the State Board of Education. Late Fall: State Board of Education approves LGBT-inclusive textbooks.
FAIR Education Act Coalition Rallies for Implementation
Our Family Coalition reconvenes the FAIR Education Act Coalition, adding Implementation to its title and mission, and leads intensive lobbying and support of the CA Dept of Ed through the remainder of the textbook review process.
CA history textbooks found lacking LGBT-Inclusivity
2017 – Spring: New state history textbooks reviewed by state panels, which for the first time are required to include LGBT history. Internal Dept of Ed review panels initially recommend textbooks found later by LGBTQ-inclusive ed advocates as sorely lacking.
California History-Social Science Framework updated
2016 – History-Social Science Framework updated based on recommendations. Includes LGBT History and LGBT Americans specifically in second, fourth, fifth, eighth, eleventh and twelfth-grade history curriculum. State Board of Education adopts revised History-Social Science Framework.
CDE uses Historians to review public comments
2015 – CDE requests funds to hire historians to review public comments. The state legislature allocates money to do so.
FAIR Education Act Coalition comes together
2014 – FAIR Education Act Coalition convened by Our Family Coalition and including representatives of the Committee on LGBT History, Equality California, GSA Network, ACLU of Southern California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Transgender Law Center, and Los Angeles LGBT Center. This group advocates and speaks at state meetings about the
Over 700 public comments are received by the CDE!
2014 – Over 700 public comments about the draft History-Social Science Framework received by the CDE.
Making the Framework Fair is published
2014 – Making the Framework Fair published by members of the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History, an affiliation of the American Historical Association. Lead authors: Professors Don Romesburg, Leila Rupp, and David Donahue.
History-Social Science Framework updating starts
2014 – Pursuant to Senate Bill 1540, the California State Department of Education (CDE) begins to update the state History – Social Science Framework.
FAIR Ed Act makes the California Education Code
FAIR Act enacted into the Education Code as of January 1.
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
2011 – FAIR Act passed in the legislature, 50-26; signed by Governor Brown in July.
SB 48: The FAIR Education Act is introduced
2010 – Senator Mark Leno introduced SB 48, “The FAIR Education Act,” in the California legislature. Courage Campaign, Equality California, GSA Network, Our Family Coalition, along with many other organizations and individual community members, advocated for its passage, both in public testimonies and in letters. For more information, visit: Mark Leno –
Legislation begins with Senator Sheila Kuehl
2006 – Senator Sheila Kuehl introduces SB 1437, “The Bias-Free Curriculum Act.” Passed legislature, but vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A different bill, SB 1441, the “Nondiscrimination in State Programs and Activities Act,” was signed into law that year, stipulating that state agencies and schools may not discriminate against homosexual people. For more information, visit:
An idea is born
2006 – Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, of GSA Network, conceives idea, solicits legislative support. For more information, visit here.
The History of the FAIR Education Act
Teachers prepare to teach LGBT-Inclusive material
2018 – School districts across California review recommended texts, per processes guided by California Department Education Code, and decide which will be used for their school district. According to Cal Ed Facts, the state currently has 344 Unified school districts and 528 Elementary school districts serving over six million students.
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
2018 – FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition receives the José Sarria History Maker Award by San Francisco LGBT Pride.
State Commission approves LGBT-Inclusive Textbooks
2017 Late Summer: the state ’s Instructional Quality Commission approves and recommends LGBT-inclusive textbooks to the State Board of Education. Late Fall: State Board of Education approves LGBT-inclusive textbooks.
FAIR Education Act Coalition Rallies for Implementation
Our Family Coalition reconvenes the FAIR Education Act Coalition, adding Implementation to its title and mission, and leads intensive lobbying and support of the CA Dept of Ed through the remainder of the textbook review process.
CA history textbooks found lacking LGBT-Inclusivity
2017 – Spring: New state history textbooks reviewed by state panels, which for the first time are required to include LGBT history. Internal Dept of Ed review panels initially recommend textbooks found later by LGBTQ-inclusive ed advocates as sorely lacking.
California History-Social Science Framework updated
2016 – History-Social Science Framework updated based on recommendations. Includes LGBT History and LGBT Americans specifically in second, fourth, fifth, eighth, eleventh and twelfth-grade history curriculum. State Board of Education adopts revised History-Social Science Framework.
CDE uses Historians to review public comments
2015 – CDE requests funds to hire historians to review public comments. The state legislature allocates money to do so.
FAIR Education Act Coalition comes together
2014 – FAIR Education Act Coalition convened by Our Family Coalition and including representatives of the Committee on LGBT History, Equality California, GSA Network, ACLU of Southern California, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Transgender Law Center, and Los Angeles LGBT Center. This group advocates and speaks at state meetings about the
Over 700 public comments are received by the CDE!
2014 – Over 700 public comments about the draft History-Social Science Framework received by the CDE.
Making the Framework Fair is published
2014 – Making the Framework Fair published by members of the Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender History, an affiliation of the American Historical Association. Lead authors: Professors Don Romesburg, Leila Rupp, and David Donahue.
History-Social Science Framework updating starts
2014 – Pursuant to Senate Bill 1540, the California State Department of Education (CDE) begins to update the state History – Social Science Framework.
FAIR Ed Act makes the California Education Code
FAIR Act enacted into the Education Code as of January 1.
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
2011 – FAIR Act passed in the legislature, 50-26; signed by Governor Brown in July.
SB 48: The FAIR Education Act is introduced
2010 – Senator Mark Leno introduced SB 48, “The FAIR Education Act,” in the California legislature. Courage Campaign, Equality California, GSA Network, Our Family Coalition, along with many other organizations and individual community members, advocated for its passage, both in public testimonies and in letters. For more information, visit: Mark Leno –
Legislation begins with Senator Sheila Kuehl
2006 – Senator Sheila Kuehl introduces SB 1437, “The Bias-Free Curriculum Act.” Passed legislature, but vetoed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. A different bill, SB 1441, the “Nondiscrimination in State Programs and Activities Act,” was signed into law that year, stipulating that state agencies and schools may not discriminate against homosexual people. For more information, visit:
An idea is born
2006 – Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, of GSA Network, conceives idea, solicits legislative support. For more information, visit here.
This site serves as a comprehensive reference hub for information regarding the FAIR Education Act, as well as for History Framework Lesson Plans and General LGBTQ Lesson Plans, and resources to support teachers as they work with the new content required by the FAIR Education Act. We are honored to work together with you to help California’s history and social sciences education be more Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful for all K-12 students.
The dozens of lesson plans, books, and video resources are sorted into Elementary School (Framework and General), Middle School (Framework and General), and High School (Framework and General) grade-levels. Once you’ve used a lesson plan or a resource, please consider providing feedback, to help fellow educators benefit from your experience. Our Resources page list additional sources for LGBTQ history materials.