The Montgomery County Board of Education has approved an LGBTQ History course that is being referred to as the first of its kind in the United States.
Per superintendent Jack Smith’s proposal, the goal of the semester-long course is to increase awareness of students to the history, culture, and challenges of the LGBTQ community in America.
The course is designed both for students who identify as LGBTQ+ and for those who do not. For students who identify as LGBTQ+, this course will empower them as they learn about their shared history, culture, and contributions. For students who do not identify as LGBTQ+, this course will increase understanding and acceptance of their peers and others in this community.
The social studies elective course is intended for 11th and 12th grade students, and could be offered as early as next spring in two MCPS high schools and eight other MCPS high schools during the 2021-2022 school year.