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
- 2006
An idea is born
An idea is born
January 1, 2006
2006 – Carolyn Laub, Executive Director, of GSA Network, conceives idea, solicits legislative support. For more information, visit here. - 2006
Legislation begins with Senator Sheila Kuehl
Legislation begins with Senator Sheila Kuehl
August 1, 2006
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: Wikipedia – Sheila Kuehl.
- 2010
SB 48: The FAIR Education Act is introduced
SB 48: The FAIR Education Act is introduced
January 1, 2010
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 – Wikipedia.
- 2011
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
January 1, 2011
2011 – FAIR Act passed in the legislature, 50-26; signed by Governor Brown in July.
- 2012
FAIR Ed Act makes the California Education Code
FAIR Ed Act makes the California Education Code
January 1, 2012
FAIR Act enacted into the Education Code as of January 1.
- 2014
History-Social Science Framework updating starts
History-Social Science Framework updating starts
January 1, 2014
2014 – Pursuant to Senate Bill 1540, the California State Department of Education (CDE) begins to update the state History – Social Science Framework.
- 2014
Making the Framework Fair is published
Making the Framework Fair is published
February 7, 2014
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.
- 2014
Over 700 public comments are received by the CDE!
Over 700 public comments are received by the CDE!
March 1, 2014
2014 – Over 700 public comments about the draft History-Social Science Framework received by the CDE.
- 2014
FAIR Education Act Coalition comes together
FAIR Education Act Coalition comes together
March 7, 2014
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 inclusion of LGBT history in the history framework and history textbooks.
- 2015
CDE uses Historians to review public comments
CDE uses Historians to review public comments
March 7, 2015
2015 – CDE requests funds to hire historians to review public comments. The state legislature allocates money to do so.
- 2016
California History-Social Science Framework updated
California History-Social Science Framework updated
March 7, 2016
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.
- 2017
CA history textbooks found lacking LGBT-Inclusivity
CA history textbooks found lacking LGBT-Inclusivity
March 7, 2017
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.
- 2017
FAIR Education Act Coalition Rallies for Implementation
FAIR Education Act Coalition Rallies for Implementation
April 7, 2017
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.
- 2017
State Commission approves LGBT-Inclusive Textbooks
State Commission approves LGBT-Inclusive Textbooks
November 9, 2017
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.
- 2018
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
June 7, 2018
2018 – FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition receives the José Sarria History Maker Award by San Francisco LGBT Pride.
- 2018
Teachers prepare to teach LGBT-Inclusive material
Teachers prepare to teach LGBT-Inclusive material
August 7, 2018
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.
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.