News
2007-05-26
N.C. house passes
antibullying bill
A bill approved
by the North Carolina general assembly would require
public schools to adopt clear policies to
counter bullying tha
A bill approved
by the North Carolina general assembly would require
public schools to adopt clear policies to
counter bullying that would protect all
students, specifically including LGBT youths. The
bill, sponsored by Rep. Rick Glazier, a Cumberland Democrat,
passed the house with a final vote of 73–46.
The legislation will move forward to the senate for a
vote in the coming weeks.
Equality NC, a
statewide LGBT rights group, partnered with child advocacy
group Covenant With North Carolina's Children to draft and
lobby for the bill. Equality NC executive director Ian
Palmquist said in a press release that bullying is too
often ignored by school administrators: "It ought to
be enough to just say, 'All bullying is bad," but too
often 'all' doesn't seem to include LGBT youth and others
most at risk. By laying out clear guidelines, this
bill will give teachers the tool they need to truly
protect every student."
Rep. Mark Hilton,
a Catawba County Republican, made a
proposal before a preliminary panel hearing to exclude
identifying characteristics like race and sexual
orientation.
"It's apparent to
me that the folks that are really pushing this portion
of the bill is the homosexual community, and the reason for
that is to bring acceptance and legitimacy to a
lifestyle that most people think is immoral," Hilton
said during the panel debate last week, according to
The [Raleigh] News & Observer. Hilton's suggested change was voted
down 30–16.
Seven out of 10
North Carolina students admitted that classmates are
bullied because of their sexual orientation, according to a
2005 Harris Interactive survey. (The Advocate)
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