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Loading ...NC anti-bully bill goes to House
05.07.2009 4:59pm EDT
(Raleigh, North Carolina) An anti-bullying bill that includes LGBT students has been given final approval in the North Carolina Senate and now heads to the House. Supporters of the measure say they believe the measure has enough support to pass.
A similar bill died in the legislature last year.The legislation covers race, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. It would require any school employee who witnesses or knows of harassment or bullying to report the incidents to school officials.
The bill received final approval without debate. On Tuesday, it gained preliminary approval with a 25-22 vote following impassioned arguments on both sides.
The inclusion of sexuality and gender identity was strongly opposed by conservative lawmakers and activist groups.
North Carolina’s two Roman Catholic bishops denounced the bill as a prelude to legalizing same-sex marriage. The Christian Action League of North Carolina urged its members to call or send e-mail to their senators telling them to vote against the measure. And the Family Policy Council of North Carolina said that if the bill passed it would lead to the expansion of the state’s hate crime law and anti-discrimination laws to cover gays.
But supporters of the bill pointed to a growing number of students in other states who were bullied because fellow students thought they were gay.
There have been at least four suicide of middle-school aged children linked to homophobic bullying, according to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
Carl Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old from Springfield, Mass., took his life April 6 after enduring constant bullying at school, including anti-LGBT attacks. Carl did not identify as gay.
Also last month, the parents of a Mentor, Ohio, high school student filed a federal lawsuit in connection with their son’s suicide.
Eric Mohat, 17, went home from school on March 27, 2007, put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. In a federal lawsuit, his parents allege that he regularly “was called ‘gay,’ ‘fag,’ ‘queer’ and ‘homo’ among other names” and that the school did nothing to prevent it.
A 2007 study by GLSEN of more than 6,000 LGBT students found that nearly nine out of 10 LGBT youth reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation, nearly half reported being physically harassed and about a quarter reported being physically assaulted.
I think it’s ridiculous these “Christian” organizations are opposed to ANTI-BULLYING legislation. What the hell?
I am an atheist, but I know enough to know that *real* Christians would never act this way. Being opposed to marriage is one thing, I can understand that, but this is children we’re talking about. We HAVE to protect our children.
If you were able to look into the soul’s of those against this bill you would see a soul in SHADOW. They care not for anyone, adult or child, they care only for their cloaked evilness. Because they wave their fantasy book at you doesn’t mean they walk the LIGHT.
Blessed Be!
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Austin Said: May 7th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
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I think it’s ridiculous these “Christian” organizations are opposed to ANTI-BULLYING legislation. What the hell?
I am an atheist, but I know enough to know that *real* Christians would never act this way. Being opposed to marriage is one thing, I can understand that, but this is children we’re talking about. We HAVE to protect our children.
Your last statement, I think expresses the crux of the problem. The people who can do this are the same ones that jump to their feet and throw their hands over their hearts when the flag is presented and loudly proclaim “one nation under God” but sort of lose force before they can get to the “liberty and JUSTICE for all” part of the pledge. They have no problem with seeing legislation passed which will protect “our kids” but they don’t want to protect gay kids because everyone knows that “christians don’t have gay kids”. Those gay kids all belong to other people and should not be allowed to associate with “normal” kids. They still have not realized that there are gay kids, and kids with gay parents sitting next to their kids in schools all over this nation.
I have written to my governor today and sent the letter off, begging her to please sign the bill if it comes to her desk. Cross your fingers this gets passed. We need less hatred, and more of a better enovirment for ALL of our children, be them gay or straight.
Please send our organization the bill number for the House, if anyone knows it. So we can speak with House officials regarding such. Thank you!
Take Care,
Caleb L
Chief Executive Officer
Gays & Lesbians United Against Discrimination
Direct Email: caleb@gluad.org
Office: office@gluad.org
*North Carolina’s two Roman Catholic bishops denounced the bill as a prelude to legalizing same-sex marriage. The Christian Action League of North Carolina urged its members to call or send e-mail to their senators telling them to vote against the measure. And the Family Policy Council of North Carolina said that if the bill passed it would lead to the expansion of the state’s hate crime law and anti-discrimination laws to cover gays.*
So let me if I understand this. The reason for not passing legislation to prevent bullying in schools, especially for gay kids, is because if they are protected by the law when they are young, they may grow up and realize that it is possible for the law to protect them from adult bullies and they will ask the legislature to “do what is right” as adults and pass anti-discrimination legislation. That sounds, to me, like a good reason to let kids be bullied. So if we let them kill themselves because we don’t do anything to help them today, then we will not have to do anything to prevent discrimination against them is the future. Sure seems like a viable way to solve both problems. Mentally unbalanced Idiots!