Two openly gay California lawmakers -- Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los… (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated…)
Reporting from Sacramento -- Textbooks and history classes in California schools would be required to include the contributions of gays, lesbians and transgender Americans under a proposal given final legislative approval in the Assembly on Tuesday and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown.
The measure sparked a spirited debate, including personal pleas from two openly gay lawmakers — Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco). They said the bill would reduce the bullying of gay students and correct an oversight by history books.
"I don't want to be invisible in a textbook," Ammiano told his colleagues.
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly of San Bernardino was one of several Republicans who spoke against the measure, which he argued was promoting a "homosexual agenda" that many of his constituents do not support.
"As a Christian, I am deeply offended," Donnelly said.
The bill, SB 48, which had already been approved by the state Senate, passed the Assembly on a 49-25 vote. Brown has 12 days to sign or veto the measure, on which he has taken no public position.
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
