President Obama Supports the Safe Schools Improvement Act and Student Non-Discrimination Act

Today, the president endorsed two bills that will counter attacks towards LGBT students in schools.

Washington Blade reports

President Obama has thrown the full weigh of administration behind a pair of bills that would help protect LGBT students against bullying: the Student Non-Discrimination and the Safe Schools Improvement Act.

Shin Inouye, a White House spokesperson, confirmed for the Washington Blade on Friday that Obama supports both pieces legislation — bringing him into alignment with a position that many LGBT organizations had sought for some time.

“The president and his administration have taken many steps to address the issue of bullying,” Inouye said. “He is proud to support the Student Non-Discrimination Act, introduced by Senator Franken and Congressman Polis, and the Safe Schools Improvement Act, introduced by Senator Casey and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. These bills will help ensure that all students are safe and healthy and can learn in environments free from discrimination, bullying and harassment.”

Both pieces of legislation address bullying in different ways. SNDA would prohibit and harassment in public elementary and secondary schools based on a student’s actual or perceived LGBT status. SSIA would require schools to adopt anti-bullying codes of conduct and submit to states data to the Department of Education on bullying.

Wow, this good to hear. Congrats to Al Franken for introducing SNDA

In Kentucky: Anti-Bullying Bill stalls in House

Why? To protect Christian Bigots

Focus and the Family believes Anti-Bullying Efforts in Schools, promote Homosexuality

These Focus on Foolishness freaks are horrid people.

New York Senate Finally passes the Anti-Bullying Bill

After years of fighting for this bill to be real, NY Senate succeeded in passing the Anti-Bullying Bill.

The bill passed 58-3, with three Republican senators voting against it: John DeFrancisco, George Maziarz and Dale Volker. Republicans attempted to amend the bill to include “cyber-bullying” that might take place off of school grounds, which amendment sponsor Sen. Stephen Saland called a “glaring omission” from the legislation.

“It’s a very important bill for many many reasons to many many people, and it’s a very important bill for, I hope not too many generations, but certainly at least for a generation or two to come,” said Sen. Tom Duane, D-Manhattan, the bill’s sponsor. “A students ability to excel in school is severely hampered by taunting, or intimidation or bullying.”

The bill would apply to events on school grounds and at school functions. It only applies to public schools. It prohibits harassment, “the creation of a hostile environment by conduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would unreasonably interfere with educational performance, opportunities, benefits, or physical or emotional well being, or cause fear for physical safety” an prohibits discrimination based ond “actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex.”

“If I hadn’t been afraid in schools, I would have done better in school,” Duane, who is openly gay, said.

Congrats!

source

Anti-Bullying Bill passes in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Legislature approves the Anti-Bullying Bill the other day.

source

North Carolina passes a bill that Protects LGBT kids

The North Carolina house and senate passes a bill that protects students bullied for their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity.

Now the bill goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue, so she can to sign it into law.

This is great news for LGBT youth who are teased and bullied for being themselves. Great news.

Here's a great quote from Dems representative, Grier Martin:

"To oppose this bill because you object to [gay or transgender people] is to fight the culture wars on the back of a child."

So True