CA Ethnic Studies Cannot Ignore Black LGBT Struggles

California is once again leading the nation by instituting the ethnic studies as a requirement for high school graduation starting in 2030. This allows California students to learn more about American history “beyond the standard narratives of heroic white males.” Ethnic studies will focus on themes such as “identity, history, systems of power, social movements and equity.”

Ultimately, this is a huge and positive step in the right direction, no matter the context. However, we have to understand that simply making this into law doesn’t necessitate a real change in practice. Take the California Fair Education Act of 2011, for example, this act mandated the inclusion of LGBTQ contributors to American history. However, in 2019 only 31% of California students reported being taught this type of material. Creating an open and inclusive environment for all our kids is necessary if we want them to not only feel accepted but also to feel safe in their own schools. This is not an exaggeration, either, as a 2020 report by the National Black Justice Coalition and GLSEN found that “the majority of Black LGBTQ students experienced harassment in school…because of their sexual orientation, gender expression, or race/ethnicity.” This victimization is most severe for black trans, gender-nonconforming, and nonbinary students as well as multi-racial LGBTQ students. Moreover, the report noted, “those who experienced both homophobic and racist victimization experienced the poorest academic outcomes and psychological well-being.”

Myung J. Chun for Los Angeles Times

California has to get ethnic studies right to support Black LGBTQ youth

By Sikivu Hutchinson, LA Times | 11/17/2021