Children of the Rainbow curriculum

[1][2] Its creation was prompted by a number of hate crime incidents that happened in New York City in the late 1980s through early 1990s, such as the murder of Yusef Kirriem Hawkins, Julio Rivera and Jimmy Zappalorti.

[3] The Children of the Rainbow Curriculum was a resource guide that contained 443 pages of suggested readings and lessons for teachers to help educate, develop, provide both academic and social skills to students and promote diversity, racial, and ethnic harmony and decrease prejudice and bigotry.

[1] The section on families referencing gay and lesbian-headed households sparked mass criticism from parents, religious groups, and other board members.

[5][6] The controversy surrounding the Rainbow Curriculum originated in the late 1980s when gay and lesbian organizations, backed by Mayor David Dinkins, actively advocated for the inclusion of their relationships in the New York City public school system.

The curriculum Children of the Rainbow was created by Nilda Soto Ruiz the Chief Executive for Instruction of the New York City Board of Education in 1991.

The curriculum was designed to provide teachers with optional guidance on how to develop suitable learning activities that promote multicultural awareness and foster respect and recognition of diverse groups and individuals.

"[1] Teachers who are aware of the various family situations that may be present in their classroom can better understand the needs and experiences of their students to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all.

The Rainbow Curriculum argues that educators have the potential to increase tolerance and decrease hate crimes against the lesbian/gay community if teachers discussed the consequences that children suffer because of homophobia in society.

[13] Jesse Helms, former Senator of North Carolina and the Senate were criticized for the proposed and "quietly passed" amendment to stop federal funds to any school system that takes action in matters interpreted as "encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive life style alternative," as reported in the article "Congress Teaches Another Lesson in Bias" by Gabriel Botello.

A Senate measure was voted in favor of States' rights with a margin of 63 to 36 for Congress to enforce a national standard for schools of any district, to not discuss certain issues pertaining to sexuality in education, a decision argued to be biased more likely than not against the LGBTQ+ community.

[15] He believed the lack of curriculum in schools was a factor in the spike of "the menace of lesbian and gay bias crimes'' and that there was a need to implement "education" as a means "to solve the problem of homophobia.

AIDS education, Simonds said, should take place no earlier than middle school, and it should "emphasize prevention through monogamous, heterosexual sexual activity within marriage… Homosexuality should not be taught as an acceptable and normal lifestyle.

Activists distributed educational flyers to clarify the facts and dispel the fiction surrounding the debate over the appropriate timing and approach to discussing gay/lesbian families at home and in school.