Cultural history: out California state senator Sheila Kuehl, of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis fame, says public schools should teach LGBT history.

Sheila Kuehl, a Democrat representing western Los Angeles who played Zelda on the classic 1960s sitcom, has authored a controversial bill that would put LGBT history in public schools in her state--and possibly across the country, as California is the largest textbook market in the United States, and its books often are used in other states. Kuehl, a former Advocate columnist, spoke after her bill had passed the senate and was headed to the assembly.

Would studying LGBT history in school have made it easier for you to come out?

Growing up, there weren't even any women in my history texts. That was the shocker for me, and only in retrospect did I realize that I had no [female] role models in terms of leadership. We read about Betsy Ross, but that was it. It's helpful for young women to see true examples of female leaders in the classroom.

What would you like to see included in textbooks if this bill becomes law?

It's not up to me; it's up to curriculum committees. But, for example, they could include information about landmarks like Stonewall and the oppression that was in existence before Stonewall. Or during a discussion about civil rights they could include information about Bayard Rustin, who was instrumental in organizing the march on Washington, D.C., in 1963 and who was a friend and mentor of Martin Luther King. Or they could talk about Harvey Milk. I think kids ought to have some understanding that there have been out gay men and lesbians for a long time.

If you could pen your own entry in the history books, what would it say?

I want to be remembered as someone who fought for civil rights and social justice.