Schools in Washington State are now mandated to teach LGBTQ history following the signing of a bill by Democrat Governor Jay Inslee.
The bill aims to enhance inclusive learning standards by incorporating LGBTQ figures’ histories and contributions, along with those of individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
The initiative, guided by the principles of so-called “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI),” seeks to eradicate bias in educational materials.
“The contributions of gay Washingtonians deserve recognition, and just as importantly, students deserve to see themselves in their schoolwork,” said the bill’s prime sponsor, Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, in a news release Monday. “That leads to better attendance, better academic achievement, and better overall quality of life, ensuring success for all our students.”
By June 2025, a model policy will be developed requiring schools to adopt “age-appropriate materials” that acknowledge LGBTQ individuals’ histories and contributions. The law mandates the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to update learning standards by September 2025 and schools to comply with the new policies by October 2025. States like Oregon, California, and Colorado have already implemented similar inclusive curriculum requirements in schools.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are organizational frameworks aimed at ensuring fair treatment and full participation of historically marginalized groups based on identity or disability. “Diversity” encompasses various aspects like gender, culture, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, and opinion within the organizational workforce. “Equity” focuses on fairness, justice, and addressing societal disparities by allocating resources to historically disadvantaged groups. “Inclusion” aims to create a school or work culture where all employees feel heard, valued, and integrated.
In September 2021, over 90 Washington state employees, including first responders and law enforcement officers, filed a lawsuit against Governor Jay Inslee over the state’s vaccine mandate. The lawsuit, filed in Walla Walla County Superior Court, accused Inslee of disregarding the religious exemption provision in his mandate, which requires public employees to be vaccinated by October 18th or face termination. More than half of the plaintiffs were Washington State Patrol members, with others including firefighters, Department of Corrections employees, and ferry operators.
Jay Inslee, a Democratic politician, lawyer, and economist, has been serving as the 23rd governor of Washington since 2013, making him the longest-serving current governor in the United States. Born in Seattle in 1951, Inslee has a background in law and economics, having graduated from the University of Washington and the Willamette University College of Law. Inslee’s political career includes serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1999 to 2012, with a brief return to private legal practice in between.