Contested Curriculum

"A much-needed, accessibly written, and deeply insightful account of one of the key issues in America's current culture wars." ~John D'Emilio, author of Memories of a Gay Catholic Boyhood

"In this accessible and powerful book, Romesburg reminds us that the long, ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ equality and justice has often happened in schools, in classrooms, and by teachers. The lesson Romesburg offers is that battles over LGBTQ+ representation in the history curriculum are ultimately disputes over whether queer and trans people matter. And history education, he argues, is an ideal place to insist that LGBTQ+ perspectives and experiences are woven into the very idea of the nation." ~Jen Gilbert, author of Sexuality in School: The Limits of Education

"A much-needed primer on the decades-long struggle for LGBTQ history education, a first-rate lesson plan on how to improve our classrooms, and an A+ answer to the question of whether more inclusive history education can support democracy." ~Marc Stein, author of Queer Public History: Essays on Scholarly Activism

"Contested Curriculum is a detailed chronology of the passage and implementation of the first legislation to establish LGBTQ-inclusive K–12 history education in the United States. Romesburg deftly places this California story in the national political context and fills in a heretofore missing piece of LGBTQ education history. A thorough update on the contemporary battle between inclusive and anti-LGBTQ curriculum laws leaves readers with an understanding of the importance of sound educational policy that expands students' thinking, improves school climate, and simply tells the truth about gender and sexual diversity." ~Karen Graves, author of Mad River, Marjorie Rowland, and the Quest for LGBTQ Teachers' Rights (Rutgers University Press, 2022)

"Contested Curriculum makes a powerful case for LGBTQ inclusion in K–12 social studies and tells a compelling story about how dedicated collective action led to that breakthrough in California. It reminds us that LGBTQ history is a necessary part of all young people's access to high-quality history instruction. Romesburg provides an insider's perspective, scholarly analysis, and a roadmap for change that will inspire readers to continue working for LGBTQ curricular inclusion, whether at the grassroots or statewide level." ~David M. Donahue, professor in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco