NEW JERSEY—Twelve schools throughout New Jersey will serve as proving grounds for newly developed lessons focused on teaching about the contributions of LGBTQ individuals to middle school and high school students.
On Jan. 7 at Union County College, Cranford, representatives from Garden State Equality, a statewide LGBTQ-advocacy organization, announced the 12 schools participating in pilot programs to help introduce LGBTQ-focused curriculum into grades five through 12.
“We believe that when classroom materials are both aligned with the Core Curriculum Content Standards and reflect diverse instruction, students will be able to appreciate differences and acquire skills and knowledge that are essential to function effectively with LGBTQ individuals, LGBTQ allies, and people of various backgrounds,” said Jon Oliveira, a spokesperson for Garden State Equality. “Further, we hold it to be true that when LGBTQ individuals see themselves reflected positively in instruction and various aspects of their school, the educational climate and well-being of LGBTQ individuals will be positively impacted.”
Of the 12 schools, Bergen Arts and Science Charter High School in Hackensack was selected to participate by Garden State Equality in the pilot project.
The schools will try out grade-appropriate lesson plans developed by Garden State Equality, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization which developed the lessons for grades 5-12 in public and charter schools.
LGBTQ lessons in 2020
Beginning September 2020, school districts statewide must implement lesson plans—subject to local school district control—to include the social, political and economic contributions and issues of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.
“Our youth deserve to see themselves reflected in the classroom, and we know the work we’re doing is going to change the lives of LGBTQ students for the better by reducing bullying,” said Ashley Chiappano, safe schools and community education manager, Garden State Equality.
Law signed Jan., 2019
Last Jan. 31, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the LGBTQ-Inclusive Curriculum bill into law, making New Jersey the second state nationwide—after California—to mandate LGBTQ-focused education.
The new law sets New Jersey apart as the first state to require an interdisciplinary, across-the-curriculum approach to integrating LGBTQ contributions and history.
The pilot program will run from January through June 2020 and be followed by a survey of educators. For 2020-2021, all pilot schools will be offered additional LGBTQ lessons for grades 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11, said GSE officials.
All pilot schools must offer a minimum of two classes in each content area.
Oliveira said lesson plans for the pilot schools are not finalized and will be refined based on educator feedback in June.
To give the public a preview, Oliveira shared samples of LGBTQ lesson plans with Northern Valley Press. Following are brief outlines of a few selected LGBTQ lessons provided to pilot schools.
‘Inclusive’ pronouns
One 50-minute LGBTQ lesson shared focuses on grades 6-8, titled “Teaching Inclusive Grammar: Pronouns,” the lesson focused on the role that pronouns play in writing and how and why they are used.
In addition, the lesson uses an assortment of online resources and documents, helps clarify gender identification and the role pronouns can play in identity, misconceptions about gender, how gender identity reflects in language and vice versa.
Another LGBTQ lesson for eighth grade students that was shared is entitled “Sakia Gunn, Media Coverage of Anti-LGBTQ Crimes and Value Assumptions” and follows a prerequisite lesson titled “Sakia Gunn, Safe Spaces and NJ Anti-LGBTQ Violence Mobilization” which both focus on the 2003 murder of Sakia Gunn in Newark, which was dubbed a hate crime that marked a turning point in Newark’s LGBTQ history.
The lesson addresses the role news media play in making value judgments about what news is; how the murder of Sakia Gunn—a black, gay, gender-fluid teen was reported; social and cultural factors that influence news coverage and public understanding; along with misconceptions found and new ways of thinking about LGBTQ issues covered by media and discussed and debated in society.
‘Pink Triangle’ lesson
Another lesson for 10th to 12th grade students is titled “The Pink Triangle” and focuses on the experiences of homosexual victims of the Holocaust, who were mostly ignored until the 1970s when testimonies from these victims began to appear, notes the lesson.
While the “pink triangle” is recognized as a symbol of Hitler’s oppression against homosexuals, it now represents a symbol of unity in the gay community and a protest against oppression, states a “Brief Summary of Cultural Competencies Related to the Unit/Lesson.”
The lesson also focuses on why experiences of homosexual victims are mostly left out of the Holocaust narrative, how stigma affects homosexuality, and that the Holocaust’s genocide also included millions of victims such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals and other groups.
The lesson includes a learning plan, instruction and learning activities, plus online reading and supplemental resources.
Oliveira told Northern Valley Press that although only 12 schools are piloting the new LGBTQ curriculum, many of the 200 schools who initially applied to participate have come on board to informally give the curriculum a tryout, although they are not part of the official pilot program.
Critics say lessons ‘violate rights’ of parents
Critics of the new initiative bemoan the current law offers no provision for parents to “opt-out”; but proponents note that the LGBTQ-inclusive content is designed to be woven into the curriculum, not taught on special occasions or as stand-alone lessons.
“The law violates the fundamental and constitutional rights of parents to direct the moral and educational upbringing of their children,” states a Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey online petition opposing LGBTQ-inclusive education. “It was written with no protections for families—families cannot opt their child out of the content for any reason, not even if they have religious or moral objections.”
N.J. Family Policy Alliance describes itself as a Christ-centered organization, public policy partner of Focus on the Family, and part of a vibrant national alliance of pro-family state groups.
“This law encourages revisionist history and teaches children that they’re no more than the sum of the sexual desires and feelings,” wrote Shawn Hyland, advocacy director for the alliance.
Hyland urges website visitors to sign a petition demanding an opt-out provision at minimum to the new law.
‘Challenge Bibilical teaching’
“Parents should know that the scope of these changes affects every subject in school, and it takes away their right to opt their children out of the questionable instruction. In many ways, this instruction will directly challenge Biblical teaching on homosexuality and what parents choose to teach children at home,” said Hyland, Family Policy Alliance advocacy director.
Hyland said that over 7,000 people had signed the online petition since October. He said he anticipates a bill to be introduced in the 2020 legislative session to provide an “opt-out” provision for parents opposed to mandated LGBTQ education.
Hyland said he was told by legislators that many did not realize “how much of a big deal it was” when passed last January.
He noted “most parents too were just not aware of this when it was passed.” He called the law “concerning and troubling.”
The law to integrate LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum was signed in late January 2019 by Gov. Phil Murphy, making New Jersey the second state nationwide to mandate such curriculum, following California.
Before Murphy signed the LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum law, it was approved by a 52-vote majority in the Assembly and a 27-vote majority in the Senate, drawing wide bipartisan support from state legislators.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Bergen Arts and Science Charter Middle School was among the schools piloting the curriculum.
