Revised Texas school curriculum omits LGBT references

The Texas School Board's approval of a revised social studies curriculum has sparked controversy because LGBT-specific references are conspicuously absent.

Critics have described the revisions as "whitewashed" and "a warped perspective of history," and Democratic board member Mavis Knight seemed to suggest some of her more conservative colleagues are indeed homophobic.

"They're always bashing homosexuals," she said matter-of-factly. "I listen to them talk and I can read between the lines."

Voting 10-5 along party lines, the board approved changes that include renaming capitalism as free-enterprise and emphasizing the right to bear arms. The board also struck down proposals to mention Tejano historical figures and examine of Thomas Jefferson's writings and separation of church of state. The panel also removed references to hip-hop music as a significant cultural movement, and it included the conservative renaissance of the 1980s and 1990s, the founding of the National Rifle Association, the Heritage Foundation and the Moral Majority.

Author Wayne Besen, who is the executive director of Truth Wins Out, believes these changes are not good for LGBT students.

"At best they're going to be ignored, and at worse they're going to be villainized," he said. "It's going to be a disaster where we're going to be marginalized and rendered invisible, and the places we do pop up are going to be as sick, or freakish or a threat to morality."

Board member Barbara Cargill called Knight's claims of homophobia absurd, and said the revisions will not have an adverse impact on LGBT students.

"Social clubs that meet outside the school day are a more appropriate place for this type of discussion," Cargill said.

Even religious leaders have urged textbook publishers to ignore the new changes. Welton Gaddy, a Baptist pastor and president of the Interfaith Alliance, wrote leading publishing companies asking them to effectively reject the new curriculum he deems "historically inaccurate."

"We understand that textbooks will not be uniform, but it simply is incorrect to state we are a Christian nation founded upon and governed by Christian beliefs," he said as reported in the Associated Baptist News. "Unfortunately, this is just one of multiple inaccuracies that will now be included in Texas textbooks."

Pearson and McGraw-Hill could not be reached for comment, but Republican board member Cynthia Dunbar said there is no reason for the publishing companies not to print the textbooks.

"I would anticipate that the publishers are going to listen to the elected body that has been elected by their constituents to be their voice," she said.

Cargill said Gaddy's claims the board is just preaching for a "Christian nation," are unfounded.

"I suggest Mr. Gaddy and others review the standards in detail," she said. "Please show me where this standard exists in K through 12 [texts?] It does not."

LGBT Texans are not the only ones who feel left out of the new textbooks. Board member Mary Helen Berlanga walked out of a heated meeting when her colleagues rejected a proposal that would have included Latino and black Medal of Honor recipients, and Hispanic figures who fought along side Davy Crockett during the Battle of the Alamo.

"Why not recognize two Tejano names that half of the student population can relate to?" Berlanga said. "They won't talk about the Ku Klux Klan or the Texas Rangers when it comes to atrocities they did, but they do want the Black Panthers in there because they were an aggressive group..."

In a recent Fox News interview, Dunbar said the board conducted an accurate review of all grade levels and wanted to make the curricula promotes a patriotic position.

"They are pro-American, but not to the extent that the other side is saying we're whitewashing history," she said.

So, what now?

Berlanga feels there is a way some of these changes could be stopped. Four members, including Dunbar, will not be on the board next year. Three of the four are conservatives who Berlanga said will be replaced by more moderate representatives. She also hopes the changes won't be sent to the publishers until January, when the new members have a chance to do something.

"I think if the publishers are smart, after the vote, no matter what the vote, no matter what they do, they'll wait till January," she said.

Although Berlanga is hopeful, Besen remains unconvinced.

"In a world where people are brainwashed to worship these right-wing heroes, it's going to make it a much more difficult world for us to live in," he said. "There's no great conservative place where LGBT people live a happy life."