The History of the FAIR Education Act
Timeline
2006
An idea is born
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
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:…2010
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 –…2011
Governor Brown signs FAIR Education Act
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 Act enacted into the Education Code as of January 1.2014
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.2014
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.2014
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.2014
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…2015
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.2016
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.2017
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.2017
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.2017
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.2018
FAIR Ed Act Implementation Coalition Awarded
2018 – FAIR Education Act Implementation Coalition receives the José Sarria History Maker Award by San Francisco LGBT Pride.2018
