Illinois Passes Law Requiring LGBT History Curriculum

“Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed legislation ensuring state schools teach the role and contributions of LGBT people in American history. Pritzker signed off on House Bill 346, which was recently passed by state House earlier this year, on Friday. The law requires all schools in the state include ‘the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State’ in official textbooks. The state’s Board of Education is also required to publish a list of the textbooks authorized to be purchased under the law annually. ‘Each public school district and state-recognized, non-public school shall, subject to appropriations for that purpose, receive a per pupil grant for the purchase of secular and non-discriminatory textbooks,’ the bill text reads. The bill also includes a section that allows the department to adopt rules ‘as necessary’ for the implementation of the law and ‘to ensure the religious neutrality of the textbook block grant program.’ State Sen. Heather Steans (D), who sponsored the legislation, said in a previous statement that ‘one of the best ways to overcome intolerance is through education and exposure to different people and viewpoints.’”

“Illinois Passes Law,” The Hill, Aug. 10, 2019

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