Earlier this year the state of Illinois joined California, Colorado, Oregon, and New Jersey when it passed Inclusive Curriculum legislation, which allows LGBT History in Public School Education. The purpose of this law is to ensure that the contributions of members of this often marginalized community would be included in the history curriculum. Needless to say the reaction from people has been mixed.
While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I’ve been shocked by the reaction of several of my “friends” who identify as “Christian” on social media. One such “friend” posted an article about hundreds of parents pulling their kids from school to protest the LGBT curriculum, with his personal comments of “we must take a stand.” According to the article parents were moved to take this action because of their Christian convictions. When I asked, “What are we standing for?” my “friend” never answered my question. I reminded him it’s a history curriculum not a sex education class.
As a Christian pastor, I know nothing about any tenets of the faith that call for the dehumanization or devaluing of another. As a matter of fact, the Holy Scripture says the Creator will know us by the love we show one to another. My wife is an educator, and we want our children to know and be inspired by the positive work of everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. I want my son to be influenced by the literary brilliance of James Baldwin. I want my daughter to read and be influenced by fighting spirit of Angela Davis. If your religion doesn’t help you see the humanity of all, it may be time for a new belief system.
I’m Joe Mitchell and this is my perspective.
