If you were to look at a U.S. history textbook, would you know LGBTQ people existed?

Guess what – you wouldn't. That's the problem.

History UnErased is solving that problem by putting LGBTQ history in its rightful place — the classroom.

Our Intersections & Connections Curriculum is the first and only complete K-12 LGBTQ-inclusive US history curriculum in the nation – and is essential for lasting LGBTQ rights and equality.

People who we label and understand today as LGBTQ have always existed–in every part of humanity–but the absence of LGBTQ narratives in our nation’s classrooms means that students never learn the stories of people and events that were critical to the founding and shaping of the United States. Erasing this history teaches students that LGBTQ people never existed. And the absence of LGBTQ identities in what students learn about our shared human history has been doing harm, as evidenced by the staggering statistics relating to LGBTQ youth and suicidality, homelessness, and risk behaviors. But our Intersections & Connections curriculum is changing this!

"This isn't LGBTQ history, it's just history. Everyone should be learning this from elementary school on." — Michele, grade 8 student

Meet Fred Karger, the first OUT major-party candidate to run for president of the United States, who has a personal message for you about why our Intersections & Connections K-12 curriculum is essential for all students. 

Fred Karger is a retired Republican consultant who worked as a senior consultant for Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. His historic run for president was in 2012 within the Republican party.

Our curriculum is being integrated into mainstream US history and social studies courses.

Our curriculum is bringing LGBTQ history into the stories of people and events that were critical to the founding and shaping of the United States and our world. This visibility is conveying messages of belonging, respect, and empowerment – and everyone benefits. As our curriculum makes LGBTQ history a part of mainstream history, it is also allowing students to apply their own identity lens(es) as they approach their learning, whether it be race, gender, ethnicity, or nationality. This ensures dignity and equitable representation for all students in the story of "We the people." And our unique, whole-school approach and sustainable model are ensuring educators are well-supported. 

"I wish this was part of my childhood education, as it would have been life-changing to have learned LGBTQ history in school. History UnErased's curriculum is essential to ensure a welcoming place for us in society." — Jim, parent

Meet Walter Naegle, Bayard Rustin's partner. Walter has a personal message for you about why learning LGBTQ history is essential for all students. 

For nearly every major civil rights event students study in school, Bayard Rustin had a hand in it. Rustin was Dr. King's lead strategist and convinced him to employ the tactics of Ghandi with nonviolence and peaceful protests. Rustin organized and spoke at the historic 1963 March on Washington, but his name did not appear in the program and, until recently, was erased from the history he helped to shape. In 2013, Rustin was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Walter Naegle, Bayard Rustin's partner, accepted the award at the White House on his behalf. 

Managing Change

Our approach to working with K-12 schools is a partnership model designed to reach every school community member. This is the first step in paving the way for lasting societal change that is welcoming and safe for all LGBTQ people. The introduction to our LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum includes all school staff to address the social, cultural, and political fear that often accompanies the idea of teaching LGBTQ history, especially because our curriculum connects with topics of race and gender.

As our whole-staff training addresses concerns head-on, our informational session for parents and caregivers also addresses their concerns about what our curriculum includes, and doesn't include, which is working to dispel any misperceptions, allay any fear, and include them in their child's learning.