Marginalized people have largely been disappeared in history classrooms. So what does that have to do with sexuality education?

Well, equity and inclusion are important in sexuality education. Every person has dignity. Every person is important. Every person is unique. And, according to the introductory episode of the Queer America podcast:

We know that bullying of students on the basis of sexual and gender identity is widespread, sometimes driving young people to suicide. A school climate study in California showed that any mention of queer people or issues in the classroom increases student safety and improved the climate for queer students.

So teaching complete history in a nuanced manner, teaching how people of all orientations and identities have made crucial contributions to our country and the world, is a matter of justice.

It’s RESPONSIBLE. It’s INCLUSIVE. And it is SEXUALITY EDUCATION. It’s also just the right thing to do.

From the website:

Without LGBTQ history, there is no American history. From Teaching Tolerance and hosts Leila Rupp and John D'Emilio, Queer America takes listeners on a journey that spans from Harlem to the Frontier West, revealing stories of LGBTQ life we should have learned in school.