Birmingham school board enacts LGBT-inclusive anti-bullying policies

[ccharles000]

The Birmingham, Alabama Board of Education has passed an anti-bullying policy inclusive of sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression, according to our friend Howard Bayless, a member of the board. A second policy passed by the board protects LGBT teachers from harassment.

Howard writes:

I have some great news. Last night the Birmingham Board of Education unanimously passed the most comprehensive anti-bullying policy in the state of Alabama. I am very proud to have been part of this effort and I want to congratulate my fellow board members on a job well done!

This process began over a year ago. Being the first openly gay man elected in the state and the first openly gay school board member anywhere in Alabama, I knew I wanted our system to be more inclusive and welcoming to ALL of our students, but I also knew this would have to be a process that involved my eight fellow board members.

I first gathered anti-bullying policies from multiple school districts that I felt encompassed what we needed in our policy, and then drafted a policy for Birmingham schools. I then began the long process of having conversation with each board member about why this was important not just as a board policy but also about why it was the right thing to do. I told them my own story of growing up in Birmingham City Schools and being harassed and bullied–and how I carried that pain with me still today. I also helped them to understand how that impacted me and my education. As part of a broader strategic planning process, my fellow board members all agreed that we wanted safer school environments for ALL our children.

http://www.gaypolitics.com/2009/10/30/breaking-birmingham-school-board-enacts-lgbt-inclusive-anti-bullying-policies/