No, the title of this post doesn't refer to any of the spam trackbacks I've been getting; rather, it's a reference to a bill that just passed the California state Senate Judiciary Committee that will require all textbooks sold in the state to mention whenever a historical figure was gay, lesbian, or transgender.
The bill, which was passed by a Senate committee Tuesday, would require schools to buy textbooks ``accurately'' portraying ``the sexual diversity of our society.'' More controversially, it could require that students hear history lessons on ``the contributions of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America.''Though it's a California bill, it could have far-reaching implications, not only by setting a precedent but also because California is the nation's largest textbook buyer and as such often sets the standards for publishers who sell nationwide.
Bill author Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, doesn't mention whether or not she wants to "out" closeted gay historical figures. I personally think it would be most interesting not just to mention the gays, but to focus on the sexual fetishes of all our historical figures. I want to know who stuck what body part into which hole of what! Only then will I be able to put history into its proper context.
I think that this is a silly law. No one should know what went on behind closed doors. That business is personal and private. What will that have to do with what they contributed to society? To me, that's like asking who and how many people they slept with. We don't want to kkkknow that crap. Keep it too yourself. I think it's irrelevent, and a waste of time and money.
Look!! Another Democrap sponsored bill that is stupid, wasteful, and does nothing. Just like the "feel-good" gun laws that democraps keep proposing, they just fill paper and time and do NOTHING. Unfortunately, this isn't limited to California but since I live here, it is noticeable. Let's see: Democrap idiocy - 4,120,323 Other - 45
NASTY!
Doesn't it follow then that EVERYONE must have their sexual preferences identified?
"George Washington, who was a heterosexual, was elected president at time when...."
"The telephone was first invented by Alexander Graham Bell, a heterosexual, who famously called to his assistant..."
etc. etc. etc.
This is a great idea. When people slowly start to see that gay people can accomplish great things, young folks have role models/people to strive to be, and straight folks see more of what honest hard working gay Americans can contribute to society and not just some distorted scary image of a drag queen in a parade. The only reason this is necessary is because he automatically assume that everybody is straight and since kids are still being taunted/beaten in their schools every day in this country, we definitely need the visibility.
Are you kidding me?! This is retarded. Kids already can't remember history well and now the only thing they are going to remember is who was gay. Sexual orientation has no place in history and sure doesn't need to be the reason someone looks to them as a role model. Was Alexander Graham Bell gay? Who Cares?!! Gay or not, PEOPLE of all variations have contributed to society. Kids who wet the bed or were not as developed have been picked on and abused at school forever. Does that mean we have to go back through history to point out great men who had the same issues?! NO. Gay people don't need any more visibility as Hollywood has done more than its fair share of "spreading the word". The scariest part is that you actually believe that this is good for kids!!
An additional problem is that as soon as one book or article claims that an historical figure was gay, that will have to be mentioned in the textbooks. There's a book out now claiming that Lincoln was gay. Lincoln scholars who are very liberal find the claim laughable, not because they know for sure that Lincoln wasn't bisexual, but because the "evidence" is so absurdly thin, and based on a misunderstanding of such matters as 19th century sleeping accommodations.
I shudder to think what some of these idiots will make of the fact that Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe all shared a bed in DC one night. (Accommodations were tight.)