Washington State Mandates LGBTQ History in Public Schools

OLYMPIA, WA — (03-26-24) — Democratic Governor of Washington Jay Inslee, signed a law last week that includes a mandate for the state’s public schools to teach LGBTQ history, as red states continue their war on the Gay Community nationwide in states with GOP majority legislatures.

The new law, Senate Bill 5462, mandates that the state’s school districts adopt a curriculum that is as “culturally and experientially diverse as possible,” including the histories of LGBTQ people, people of color and people with disabilities. All public schools will be required to institute the inclusive curriculum by the 2025-26 school year.

“The governor was happy to sign legislation that aims to ensure students of all races and identities feel safe and welcome at school,” said Mike Faulk, a spokesperson for Gov. Jay Inslee, in an email released to media outlets on Monday.

Washington becomes the seventh state to enact legislation mandating that public schools incorporate an LGBTQ History curriculam in some capacity, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ think tank.

The other six are California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey and Oregon, states that have been won by Democrats in the last four presidential elections.

This is a victory for LGBTQ Rights as America has witnessed conservative lawmakers introducing a record numbers of anti-LGBTQ measures nationwide, including legislation to regulate how LGBTQ issues are taught in public schools.

Article by: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer

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