Illinois House Passes Bill Requiring LGBTQ History to be Taught in Public Schools

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Inclusive Curriculum Bill (HB 246), which would include the contributions of LGBTQ people in the history curriculum in Illinois public schools, passed The Illinois House of Representatives in a 60-42 vote on Wednesday. The bill next moves to the Illinois Senate for consideration.

The LGBTQ-inclusive legislation, sponsored by State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-43-Elgin), is an initiative of Equality Illinois, The Legacy Project, and Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, and just last month passed the Illinois House Education School Curriculum Committee.

The Inclusive Curriculum Bill would amend the School Code with regard to the textbook block grant program, providing that textbooks authorized to be purchased must include the roles and contributions of all people protected under theIllinois Human Rights Act and must be non-discriminatory as to any of the characteristics under the Act. Specifically, "that in public schools only, the teaching of history of the United States shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State." If passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the new law would go into effect July 1, 2020.

In February 2019, New Jersey became the second U.S. state following California’s lead to pass a law requiring public schools to teach LGBTQ history in their classrooms.