Leadership magazine Sept/Oct 2015 V45 No 1 | Page 23

ment is not out of place in our schools; in
fact, it is just the conversation we need to
have. California laws such as Senate Bill 48,
the Fair Accurate Inclusive and Respectful
(FAIR) Education Act (2011), and Assembly Bill 1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act (2014), are bringing changes
to our schools. This is the time to have the
conversation.

Tipping point for LGBT rights; intentional
efforts in schools needed
So many changes are occurring regarding LGBT issues that it is difficult to keep
up with them in this space. Under President
Obama and former Attorney General Eric
Holder, gay and lesbian Americans can now
marry in 37 states (and counting). We can
serve openly in the U.S. military and are
protected against hate crimes under the
Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act, the first pro-LGBT
federal law in U.S. history. The number of
openly gay judges on the federal bench has
increased exponentially, and gay and lesbian
couples can now receive federal marriage
benefits. Even more life-changing was the

landmark ruling by the Supreme Court on
June 26 to allow same-sex couples the right
to marry nationwide! #LoveWins.  
This focus on ensuring that LGBT Americans have equal rights has validated loving
couples, protected our youth, and allowed
people to serve our country while not disavowing their sexual orientation. We have
our first openly bisexual, statewide officeholder, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon, and a
record number of other LGBT leaders servi