Franken to introduce bill addressing anti-gay bullying

[Shana A]

Franken to introduce bill addressing anti-gay bullying
By Andy Birkey 4/27/10 8:15 AM

http://minnesotaindependent.com/58090/franken-to-introduce-bill-to-address-anti-gay-bullying

Al Franken asked testifiers at the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee how the nation's public education system can address bullying targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. And the Minnesota senator announced he'll be introducing a bill to address the issue of bullying that targets LGBT students. It's the second time in recent weeks that Franken has spoken out in committee hearings about the issue.

"There's something very specific that has been on my mind... LGBT youth being bullied," Franken told a panel of education experts. "Right now we have laws that prohibit bullying based on pretty much everything, but not on gender identity and gay and lesbian kids. And the evidence is that gay kids are bullied a lot and that their achievement goes down. There's a lot of absenteeism and even suicide."

[Kaelin]

Between his anti-rape bill amendment and this new bill, Franken is doing quite well for someone who has only been a senator since last June.

[Vicky]

My only real question is WHY couldn't there have been a single law that was worded, "it doesn't matter who you bully, its illegal as hell and we'll toast you for it!" done the first time right.  Rhetorically: Why do we need a bill against this behavior in the first place?  SIGHHHH, I know the answer to that.  I am however glad for Franken's efforts though.

[sd]

My only real question is WHY couldn't there have been a single law that was worded, "it doesn't matter who you bully, its illegal as hell and we'll toast you for it!" done the first time right.  Rhetorically: Why do we need a bill against this behavior in the first place?  SIGHHHH, I know the answer to that.  I am however glad for Franken's efforts though.

Because that would make too much sense.

[LordKAT]

I always wondered why  about discrimination too. It should just say that you can not discriminate based on who a person is, only on work performance/skills.

[juliekins]

I think that there is an importance to singling out and identifying those of us who are the subject of bullying. Many school districts pay lip service to protecting all kids from bullying, but look the other way when it comes to GLBT kids. In our case, we can be beaten or killed.

This is the same line of thinking that allowed the Congress to pass a hate crimes bill including sexual orientation and gender identity.

These laws, when put into effect, also help those who were bullied successfully sue the school district when teachers and administrators turn a blind eye.

[Jasmine.m]

Thank [insert deity here] that Franken won MN... We need more senators like him!!