The FAIR Education Act requires local school districts in California, with input from parents and teachers, to integrate factual, age-appropriate information about social movements, current events and the contributions of gay and disabled leaders into existing social studies lessons that include contributions of both men and women, people of color and other groups. It also prevents schools from adopting learning materials with a discriminatory bias or negative stereotypes based solely on race, ethnicity, religion, disability and sexual orientation.

The FAIR Education Act, SB48, ensures that all students in California will learn about the historic contributions that LGBT people have made to society – history like Harvey Milk’s groundbreaking run for Mayor of San Francisco or Bayard Rustin’s organizing of the Civil Rights march and acting as an adviser to Martin Luther King Jr.

Now, well-funded anti-gay groups are organizing to put a repeal of the law on the ballot this November meaning once again our families will be under attack and our history erased. You have seen how vicious, anti-gay campaigns like those during Prop 8 increase violence and bullying in schools and in our communities. This campaign is no different, the anti-gay groups are already spreading harmful misinformation about this law. We must work together by sharing our stories with our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family about why it is important to our families to continue including the contributions of LGBT people and all people in accurate history lessons in our schools.

Listen to this segment on California Public Radio feartuing Paulo Sibaja, whop filed the paperwork to launch the repeal effort, and Rebekah Orr, Communications Director, Equality California.

Southern California Public Radio: FAIR Education Act by COLAGE

Take Action:

We need your eyes and ears on the ground today. If you spot an anti-LGBT, anti-progressive signature gatherers, report them immediately by calling the toll-free “Decline to Sign Hotline” at 1-877-440-9585. We’ll immediately dispatch a trained “truth squad” to make sure potential petition signers know the truth about these initiatives including the referendum on the FAIR Education Act.
We’re working to protect the FAIR Education Act and block this referendum from the ballot as
part of a broad coalition of organizations including advocates for people with disabilities, LGBT
organizations, labor unions, faith communities, racial justice groups and many other groups that
believe in equality for all.

Please take a moment to write a letter to your local or state-wide newspapers about why it is important for all students to learn about the historic contributions of LGBT people.  Whether you have LGBTQ parents or you’re working to create a world that treats all families with dignity and respect, your voice counts.

In your letter:

• Encourage people not to sign any petitions to put a repeal of the FAIR Education Act on the ballot.
• Share a brief personal story about why this issue is important to you

Submit:

Here is a list of contact information for California newspapers.

Be sure to submit your letter to COLAGE so that we can keep it on record, and share it widely!

The Growing COALITION TO PROTECT THE FAIR EDUCATION ACT:
California Teachers Association, National Center for Lesbian Rights, ACLU Northern and Southern California, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Freedom to Marry, API Equality Northern California and Los Angeles, GLSEN, GAPSN, Our Family Coalition, COLAGE, Courage Campaign, Latino Equality Alliance, the San Diego LGBT Community Center, Transgender Law Center, Bayard Rustin LGBT Coalition, Vote for Equality, San Francisco Pride, Jordan Rustin Coalition, Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, Orange County Equality Coalition, and Honor PAC.

Nick Hetherington is one of the first known people with lesbian moms to be born through donor insemination. Today he is a leader of the COLAGE NYC chapter, and a wonderful advocate for people with LGBTQ parents.

BBC Interview, June 2011 with Nick & his mom Janis
Nick and Janis Hetherington by COLAGE

On Sunday, June 26, 2011 famlies marched with COLAGE and Our Family Coalition in the San Francisco Pride Parade. Afterwards they enjoyed a “family garden” with activities such as face painting, a play ground, and more!

The New York State legislature passed the historic Marriage Equality Act on June 24th. The Act protects the rights of same-sex couples, and the long-sought change may signal a recognition–and acceptance–of the shifting nature of modern society. WNSR’s Sarah Montague spoke with one family that may become more commonplace.

Hannah Moch is a student at Eugene Lang College. She has a sweet, slightly old-fashioned look, like a funky Vermeer painting, and you wouldn’t immediately peg her as a social revolutionary–until you read her T-shirt, which is likely to proclaim that gay marriage is the best kind. And she should know–she is the daughter of two women, Cheryl Moch, and Cheryl Morris, who comment that they gave birth to “a real gay rights activist.”

While statistics are scanty–according to the 2000 Census, about 4 to 5 percent of U.S. adults are not heterosexual, and of those, approximately 20 percent are raising children under 18 –anecdotal evidence suggests that non-traditional family units of all kinds are on the rise, and Hannah, in her twenties, is part of the first generation of young adults to be raised by same-sex parents.

When Moch and Morris met at UCLA, they knew that they wanted to have and raise a child. And although they are no longer a couple, they have “stayed a family in all the important ways.” All three women talk about their experience here.

Hi there!

I’m Rachel E. B. Lang and today I “glittered” Representative Michele Bachmann to draw attention to her anti-gay crusade against families like yours and mine. As the proud daughter of a lesbian mom living in the state of Minnesota, I know first hand how harmful Michele’s anti-gay rhetoric and policy positions can be.

When I saw Bachmann today, I threw glitter in the air, and said, “You can run, but you cannot hide! Keep your hate out of our Constitution!” — a reference to the “You Can Run But You Cannot Hide” ministry for which Bachmann has helped raise money and to a proposed ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The ministry, a brainchild of rabidly anti-gay Bradlee Dean, charges thousands of dollars to speak at public school assemblies and evangelize young people based on a shocking and offensive anti-gay program.

Bradlee Dean, the ministry’s founder and chief evangelist, was invited to give the opening prayer during the recent Minnesota legislative session that considered putting an anti-gay marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot. My mom is a Lutheran minister and has taught me the values of love and compassion that I so desperately wish Michele Bachmann and Bradlee Dean would cherish too.

Throwing glitter in the air was a fun, safe way to draw attention to some very serious issues. Young people deserve the right to feel safe and respected, and have their families reflected at school. And I deserve the right to see my lesbian mom get married one day! I’m not willing to be silent about the vicious attacks on families like ours.

I learned about COLAGE at the Netroots Nation in Minneapolis this weekend. I’m excited to be connected to a community of my peers who also have lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer parents and to join you in creating a world that celebrates ALL families!

In solidarity,

Rachel E. B. Lang

p.s. Please celebrate my glittery victory by donating to COLAGE today, so people like me can continue to find my community and my voice!

Beginners was amazing. As a COLAGEr with an older gay dad, Christopher Plummer’s portrayal reminded me so much of my father. His character brought about many hilarious, thoughtful, and heartfelt moments on the screen.

The performance pushed me to recall some fond memories of times spent with father and the years to come. Ewan McGregor’s performance was brilliant as well. His character navigating many of challenges life threw at him with an earnest and gentle nature.

It inspired me to look at the way I handle things with my father differently, perhaps with more compassion and love. It’s not often that we get to look at the very real challenges faced by a straight man attempting to express his love for his gay father in a world that not only gives such a man no guidance for how such a relationship should look but perhaps also tells him that it should not exist in the first place.

I also really enjoyed how the story captured some of the incredible history of the gay rights movement in the plot. It was not just haphazardly thrown in there, it was seamlessly integrated into the story of a main character’s life. It added some well-placed gravity to the story. Everyone should go see this film, it’s a wonderful work of cinematic art.