Posted on 01/18/2005 6:35:43 AM PST by presidio9
Schools will be encouraged to hold lessons exploring the achievements of gay men and women throughout history as part of the first gay history month.
The project, to be held in February, will highlight the hidden history of household names who would probably today identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, such as William Shakespeare, who was rumoured to be bisexual, and Florence Nightingale, who few people know was a lesbian.
Other events covered during the month will include talks on the early years of gays and lesbians in British television and discussions of the history of the British LGBT Muslim movement. Pupils will also study modern gay icons such as Freddie Mercury and Sir Ian McKellen, alongside more historical gay and bisexual figures such as Isaac Newton and Alexander the Great.
The voluntary initiative, modelled on the successful black history month held each October, is being backed by the government and has been given a grant by the Department for Education and Skills. It will be officially launched at the Houses of Parliament on February 7.
Jacqui Smith, the government minister responsible for equality, said: "I hope that lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender groups and their supporters across the country will take the opportunity to participate in the month and organise LGBT events in their areas. I believe the month will be important in helping to drive the culture change to create a more inclusive society. It will also be a great opportunity to uncover some hidden LGBT histories."
The scheme was designed by Schools Out! - a group campaigning for LGBT equality in schools - to get gay issues onto the curriculum. They will also encourage libraries, theatres, sports clubs and councils across the country to hold events.
Nigel Tart, from Schools Out, said: "Since the 80s, LGBT issues have been squeezed out of subjects like history, English and drama. Today's students only encounter them, if at all, in relation to bullying, sex education and Aids. LGBT history month is our first major project to reclaim our place in the curriculum."
It is not know how many schools will be involved in the project but Stephen Twigg, minister for school standards, said the government would be encouraging schools to sign up.
So the gay community has supposedly gone from the likes of Shakespeare and Isaac Newton to dead singers and 'Magneto' from the X-men? Kind of a sharp decline in quality, isn't it?
Juice Newton?
/sarcasm
Well considering where he is now, he probably has turned gay.
That's bad. Someone needs more coffee. :)
I think I read that Oscar Wilde was straight. Liberace too. Not sure about Jm J Bullock.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
"... and Florence Nightingale, who few people know was a lesbian."
And even fewer give a s4!t. Eventually the queers will claim that ALL of our forefathers were fags.
Gereal Custer was gay. Look at his hair and his penchant for primping all of the time. John L. Sullivan was gay, look at the tights he wore to box, only a gay man would wear those. Batman and Robin were gay. A rich older guy and a young teen living together?
These people are reaching I tel, ya!
/more sarcasm
I think Paul Lynde was straight as well. The whole gay act was just to get chicks.
If the MSM (worldwide) was conservative, and more focused on WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE WORLD TODAY we would not be seeing/hearing this gay tripe.
Just another reason the MSM is a dying dinosaur, backsliding into the tarpits of time.
A minister responsible for equality? Sheesh!
Wow, glad I'd be dead when I start voting democrat and becoming a homosexual, because it won't happen in my life time.
For bedtime reading....and maybe to share with your university students
I hear Vlad the Impaler was gay. If that's true, expect his image to be rehabilitated within the next few months.
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