A few weeks ago we made a passing, happy endings related mention to a school in Philadelphia that planned on including gay history in its academic schedule. Of course, the more conservative parents got their panties in a twist and raised a stink. Well, that stink just got way more pungent.

Gathering at Kings High School, a group of concerned citizens got together to discuss the issue. That discussion, however, turned into a full-fledged war of words as people insisted that the move was a blemish on the school's fine educational standards. The Philadelphia Daily News quotes some angry residents:

"I am requesting that you rescind this gay and lesbian pride month. Issue new calendars for October and call this month anti-violence month, reading month," said Ann Martin, a grandparent and ex- school district employee.

"Shame on you. Shame on you," she said, shouting at the school officials. "It's never too late to right a wrong. What were you thinking?"
Robert Gray, of the African American Freedom and Reconstruction League, stood as his wife read his statement: "The children aren't taught to read, write and master life-survival skills. However, our children are being taught gender preference. This is totally unacceptable."

What we can't understand is why people get so fucking bent out of shape about gay history. It could be way worse: it could be serial killer appreciation month or rape that girl right there month, both of which would certainly be worse than a little homo history.

Alert the right wing: their worst fears are coming true, we are officially recruiting children now. The California State Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would require schools to include the "contributions of gays and lesbians" in the development in the state. The bill now must pass the State Assembly, which it is expected to, as the Assembly previously voted in favor of gay marriage.

First of all, this is fantastic! But honestly, we're flummoxed at the idea that California doesn't include these lessons already. Skipping over the story of Harvey Milk's assasination, or excluding the contributions of gay people in Hollywood, one of the state's largest generators of revenue...it's like telling the story of Christopher Columbus and keeping out the part where he enslaved the natives and decimated their culture. Oh wait, schools keep that out too. What are they teaching our children, anyway?!

The Quote Of The Day award goes to this response of the right-wing:

Karen England of the conservative Capitol Resource Institute said in a statement the bill "seeks to indoctrinate innocent children caught in the tug-of-war between traditional families and the outrageous homosexual agenda."

Outrageous! Truly truly outrageous! The music's contagious, outrageous, Jem is my name no one else is the same! JEM IS MY NAME! Sorry. We'll stop. See, when California teaches kids about the role of LGBT people in their society, perhaps kids will have a chance to bring in pictures for Show And Tell, of their gay uncles dressed up as Jem And The Holograms for the West Hollywood Halloween parade. Not that we ever did that. Okay, we totally did and we looked fantastic.

It's embarrassing to think of generations 50 years from now, who will look back on our silly conflicts and wonder why we censored ourselves in the first place. Next we'd like to take a course on the prevalence of man-on-man lovin' on the Greek and Roman battlefields, and the various same-sex and transgendered affairs during the reign of the British Empire. Imagine the visual aides!

For the Jem theme, click here. Please memorize the lyrics. There will be a quiz on Monday.

California okays lessons on gays in textbooks [Reuters]