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.
I'm sorry. The more I read about modern Great Britain, the more I fear for their future. Pathetic.
Wayne Newton?
Fig Newton??
Le poof celebre.
It's easy to slander the dead.
And despicable, of course, but consider the source; what did we expect from these people?
Everyone was gay, except for Mohammed. The human live cycle is now embryo - fetus - baby- child - teenager - adult - senior citizen - death - start voting democratic - become homosexual.
Everybody in the whole damn world from the beginning of time was gay. It's a miracle the human race has been able to procreate to the present day.
By the standards of scholarship they are using, anyone that wore purple was a homosexual. That would mean every Royal.
Wayne's straight. He's also a Republican.
LOL!! Well, it' always nice to have something to look forward to.
What place in curriculum does sexual behavior have? O.K., maybe a drama queen, but history? English?
come on people. there are fruitcake all over the palce right???
Occasionally our inevitable passing-on takes on a tinge of desirability. The limits of man's foolishness and downright depravity seem to be non-existant I cannot but feel sorry for younger generations.
While we must fight to the very best of our abilities, the battle does at times, seem daunting.
But we need to realize that heterosexuality is a relatively new thing in the history of man. For most of history, up until the time of our grandparents, people were content to be sodomites. Don't you get it?
more...
FURY AT KIDS GAY-LEVELS
http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=15080928&method=full&siteid=55768&headline=fury-at-kids-gay-levels-name_page.html
Jan 16 2005
Now it's homosexual history lessons in primary schools Pupils will be taught: Shakespeare was a fairy Florence Nightingale was a secret lesbian
By Nigel Nelson
KIDS are to get bizarre gay history lessons - to teach them that William Shakespeare was a homosexual.
Pupils as young as five will also be taught that nursing heroine Florence Nightingale was a lesbian.
The "Gay Level" studies - backed by schools minister Stephen Twigg have triggered outraged protests.
Shadow education minister Chris Grayling condemned the politically correct brainwave as "just extraordinary".
Children in all primary and secondary schools will be offered lessons which concentrate on the gay and lesbian lives of key figures from history.
Pupils will be told how the Bard fancied fellas - and the Lady with the Lamp secretly carried a torch for the girls.
Although there have been suggestions that the nation's greatest dramatist and most famous nurse fancied members of their own sex nothing has ever been proved for sure.
Mr Grayling stormed: "It's rewriting history. This is a disservice to the memory of two of Britain's greatest figures. It will create a new image of them based on speculation rather than knowledge and diverts from their real achievements. And it doesn't do gay and lesbian people any favours."
Shadow young people's minister Charles Hendry added: "This is going to lead to unnecessary confrontation because the debate will be about if someone was gay or not.
"We should be concentrating on their contributions. This is a distraction and a bit of an own goal."
Children will also learn about modern gay icons like actor Sir Ian McKellen and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS. It is even possible that older children will write essays on aspects of gay history such as male brothels and "cottaging" - meeting in toilets for illicit sex.
The lessons are part of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month, organised by Schools Out, a support group for gay and lesbian teachers. They follow the idea of the Black History Month taught in many schools.
The Government is spending thousands of pounds on a website with material for teachers.
"We will encourage schools to take part," said Mr Twigg.
Equality minister Jacqui Smith added: "The month will be important in helping to drive the culture change to create a more inclusive society.
"It will be a great opportunity to uncover hidden lesbian, gay and bisexual histories."
And Schools Out spokesman Nigel Tart, a 39-year-old maths teacher, said: "Lesbian, gay and bisexual issues have been squeezed out of subjects like history, English and drama.
"This is our first major project to reclaim our place in the curriculum."
Schools Out also suggests that kids organise gay fashion shows. And pupils could re-enact early Christian ceremonies in which it says same-sex couples were blessed in churches.
But a top Anglican churchman insisted: "That just never happened." And a Church of England spokesman said: "If this reconstruction is based on little or no evidence then its inclusion could not be justified."
nigel.nelson@people.co.uk
Isaac Newton?
Nate Newton???!!!
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