LGBTQ Curriculum Law 'Encouraging' To Some, 'Not Right' To Others

ILLINOIS — People across Illinois are sharing their thoughts more than a week after Governor J.B. Pritzker signed legislation requiring Illinois public schools to educate students on the history of the LGBTQ community, effective July 20, 2020. Pritzker signed House Bill 246 Friday, Aug. 9, and the move has received both praise and backlash.

In an email to Patch, Teal Mercaent, faculty coordinator for the LGBTQ+ Resource Center at College of Lake County, called the newly signed law "ground-breaking and encouraging."

"I think that it is important that history be all-inclusive," Mercaent said. "In the past, history classes (as well as other disciplines) have tended to focus on the contributions and achievements of a small number of people."

A faculty member in College of Lake County's Sociology and Gender and Sexuality Studies programs, Mercaent is co-chair of the school Diversity Council's LGBTQ+ Student Issues Committee and LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group.

"In contrast to other states that discourage any positive discourse on the LGBTQ+ community, Illinois is sending a clear message that we are recognized & valued," Mercaent added.

For public schools, the measure also states "the teaching of history shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State."

More: LGBTQ History Will Be Taught In Illinois Public Schools

Many Patch readers seem to share Mercaent's views, while others seem more skeptical of the new law.

After a recent Patch report detailing the new curriculum requirement was shared across several Patch Facebook pages, one woman wrote: "Additional mandates included in the bill are those for the history of several groups including African Americans, Irish, Hispanic and Asian Americans, and illegal deportation during the Great Depression. It's about time. All of this is a part of US History."

However, another commented: "This is not right at all! It should be a parents choice if they want their child being taught this and not mandated by people that know nothing about these kids! Also are the teachers going to go back to School and be taught all of this history or just get a one day seminar."

Patch reached out to several local and state LGBTQ organizations and groups, and will update this article as more responses come in.

For now, share your thoughts on the new law in the comment section below.