SENATE BILL 48 is signed by Governor Jerry Brown in California. The bill requires California’s public school textbooks to include the historical contributions of LGBT Americans under a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on this date. The legislation was authored by out gay Democratic State Sen. Mark Leno, who said it would ensure that LGBT Americans are no longer excluded from history lessons. “Denying LGBT people their rightful place in history gives our young people an inaccurate and incomplete view of the world around them,” Leno said.

Senate Bill 48 requires public instruction in social sciences to include the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, as well as people with disabilities and members of other cultural groups. It prohibits teaching from textbooks or other instructional materials that reflect adversely on people because of their sexual orientation.

“History should be honest,” said Governor Brown in a written statement. “This bill revises existing laws that prohibit discrimination in education and ensures that the important contributions of Americans from all backgrounds and walks of life are included in our history books.”