NC: anti-bullying bill is in jeopardy

[ccharles000]

This is heinous. The wingnut Republicans in the state legislature are erupting and threatening passage of a bill that would protect children from bullying in schools, the School Violence Prevention Act. And the bill would not only protect children based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It boggles the mind to think the following language is what keeps this bill from being a quick done deal:
"Bullying or harassing behavior includes, but is not limited to, acts reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, socioeconomic status, academic status, gender identity or expression, physical appearance, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, developmental, or sensory disability, or by association with a person who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics."
Matt Comer at QNotes reports efforts are under way by winger and homobigoted Christian fundamentalist organization to bully lawmakers and pick off votes of queasy supporters through scare tactics. Look at the insanity one long-time GOP fossil offers in opposition to safe schools:

"The House did pass it last time, but the right-wing and Republican leadership have effectively made this bill just about that specific language in the minds of many legislators," Palmquist said. "I think that is what's making it closer this time."
Equality NC is encouraging supporters to go to their website and send an action alert email to their legislators. "We strongly encourage people to follow that up with a phone call, to let them know they support the bill," Palmquist said.

Supporters can participate in the action alert here: eqfed.org/campaign/HouseSVPA2

In the committee meeting on Tuesday, the leading opponent of the bill in the House, Minority Leader Skip Stam (R-Wake) said same-sex parents are "more dangerous than second-hand smoke." Stam also "argued that explicitly protecting gay kids from bullying would lead to pedophilia and gay marriage," WUNC public radio reported.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/11532/nc-antibullying-bill-is-in-jeopardy

[dsc]

1. thanks I was going to post this

I have written my rep and senator plus went and visited, leaving notes.

[ccharles000]

2. I E-mailed my state rep Pricey Harrison about this the other day.

Today I am going to write my state senator.

[dsc]

3. good but sadly we are preaching to the choir on this

our reps are the good guys and we need people who live in the bad guys districts to speak up.

[AndyTiedye]

5. When is the Next Election? Can We Donate To Their Opponents?

The GOP comes out in favor of bullying in schools.
Surely we can get some mileage out of that.

Not everyone who gets bullied is gay, despite what the wingnuts may claim.

[dsc]

6. 2010

[ccharles000]

4. kick

[blue_onyx]

7. Same problem in MI

Anti-bullying legislation has been stuck in our state Senate for years. The House passed it and the Senate claims it was "too specific." Then one Republican admitted it was the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity that was creating their opposition. It was said that the bill would provide special treatment for gay people, although nothing was said about race, gender, etc.

For the sake of MI, I hope we can swing the control of the Senate to the Democrats (and keep the governorship) so we can finally pass things, like anti-bullying legislation. Hopefully anti-bullying legislation gets passed in NC (and all states) too.