Gov. Jay Inslee (D-Washington) signed a law on March 18 requiring Washington’s school districts to develop curricula promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. The legislation, SB 5462, emphasizes incorporating the histories of marginalized and underrepresented groups into the school curriculum, including LGBTQ communities, individuals from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, various racial and ethnic groups, and people with disabilities.
“Growing up, it was so rare to hear anything about the contributions of the LGBTQ community in any setting, let alone in the classroom,” State Senator Marko Liias (D), the bill’s sponsor, said after the legislation passed the Washington Senate in January. “The contributions of gay Washingtonians deserve recognition, and just as importantly, students deserve to see themselves in their schoolwork. That leads to better attendance, better academic achievement and better overall quality of life.”
Advocates are celebrating the enactment of SB 5462, which they say will aid LGBTQ youth in the state.
“LGBTQ kids in Washington are going to learn about people who are just like them and be given historical role models to look up to,” LGBTQ legislative researcher Allison Chapman told Truthout. “This will instill so much hope in the lives of kids who might feel like they are different and don’t fit in. This small amount of hope will allow LGBTQ students to thrive and push themselves to be incredible members of society.”
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