Massachusetts and Illinois set to include LGBT+ history in schools

Massachusetts and Illinois may be about to include LGBT+ history into their school curriculums. A new curriculum for Massachusetts schools was developed with the Massachusetts Safe School Program for LGBTQ Students and the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth. It will have lessons on the Stonewall Riots and have writings from authors like Langston Hughes and Willa Cather. The lessons won’t be mandatory but will be available to as resources to districts.

Commission director Corey Prachniak-Rincon explained the decision: “If students don’t see themselves in the curriculum, they are not as likely to pay attention. It is a huge demand we hear from teachers. They recognize part of the reason why LGBTQ students feel excluded is they’re not reflected and that part of their identity is ignored.”