Loading...
Loading...
On-Air Promo Creative 115x175
|| News ||
Page 1 of 1

N.C. Bullying Bill Dies Over Gay Controversy

Proposed North Carolina legislation that would protect schoolchildren from antigay bullying has died for this year, The [Raleigh] News & Observer reported Friday. “The failure of this bill to pass…sends a bad message,” state senator Doug Berger told the Observer.



Proposed North Carolina legislation that would protect schoolchildren from antigay bullying has died for this year, The [Raleigh] News & Observer reported Friday.

“The failure of this bill to pass…sends a bad message,” state senator Doug Berger told the Observer. The senate sent the bill back to committee Thursday, and it will not come to a vote during this legislative session, Berger said.

The controversy that prevented the bill from passing surrounded the addition of “sexual orientation” as a reason that a student may face discrimination or bullying, the Observer reported.

Right-wing groups including the Christian Action League and the North Carolina Family Policy Council objected to the added term, saying LGBT activists would use the law as leverage to pass other legislation. (The Advocate)

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Facebook. Page 1 of 1
Reader Comments
  • Name: Darren Collins
    Date posted: 7/21/2008 9:10:00 PM
    Hometown: Toronto

    Comment:

    You will never find anyone more full of hate than a Christian. I feel so sorry for my cousins south of the boarder. I wish for you to find Governments that will no longer rule with Religion, but instead what is best for the citizens.

  • Name: Ryan
    Date posted: 7/21/2008 11:15:00 AM
    Hometown: Toronto

    Comment:

    There is nothing to respect about rural America when it comes to gender & sexual identity politics. From Oklahoma to the Carolina's, a complete lack of intelligence on the part of lawmakers and state legislators goes unnoticed on the national scene, as if it's perfectly normal to openly bash gays in these regions. The South should be ashamed. This week Newsweek (a rag newsmag i know) asks why gay youth are getting murdered? Well...because idiot lawmakers in idiot states allow it to happen. Period.

  • Name: Rick
    Date posted: 7/21/2008 12:20:00 AM
    Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

    Comment:

    Apparently it's still politically correct to bash Southerns in 2008. But before you bash everybody from North and South Carolina, please remember that homophobic Senator John Briggs was from California, Harvey Milk was assassinated in California, and Californians are currently attempting to outlaw gay marriage. A look at history will find that during the California gold rush, over 100,000 Native American men, women, and children were slaughtered by Californians. But I guess none of that really matters as long as we focus our hate on the bad old South.

  • Name: Rudy
    Date posted: 7/19/2008 12:48:00 PM
    Hometown: Key West, FL

    Comment:

    I guess rednecks rule in North Carolina. But then again, what can you expect from the ignorant people who kept Jesse Helms in office for decades? The irony of these so-called "Christians" is that their hatred will admit them directly to hell on judgment day. Jesus has no room in heaven for bigots!

  • Name: Daniel
    Date posted: 7/19/2008 11:54:00 AM
    Hometown: Niskayuna, NY

    Comment:

    The Christian right should be careful how many hate seeds and exclusions to equal protection they sow! It could come back and bite them. The 'you are different than me' climate changes with time. How long until they are in the minority - again and thier children are being beat up and taunted for being different? Hmm 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' sounds familiar doesn't it?

  • Name: Dennis
    Date posted: 7/18/2008 5:32:00 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Anton, I suggest that one or more students in that class should covertly record the teacher's remarks and then contact the ACLU to see if there are any grounds for legal action. What the teacher and the school administration are doing is seriously wrong.

  • Name: Anton
    Date posted: 7/18/2008 2:30:00 PM
    Hometown: Asheville, NC

    Comment:

    I live in Asheville, NC, a very queer friendly city, and it's easy to forget that elsewhere in the state we are still lightyears away from equality. My sister goes to high school in a city a few hours east of Asheville, and she's had to sit through an English class where the teacher routinely codemns muslims, says that all gays are going to burn in hell (even though there are 2 out gay pupils in the class), and has even stated that she wishes Sen. Barack Obama is "shot in the head" if he ever became president. Very discouraging indeed. When my sister complained, she was told by the administration that the teacher was a good woman, and that they shouldn't make issues of her personal opinion... The only glimmer of hope is that even in that type of environment, there at least 2 kids with the courage to be out.

  • Name: Robert
    Date posted: 7/18/2008 1:00:00 PM
    Hometown: Houston

    Comment:

    Its obvious the Christian Action League and the Family Policy Council don't care about the safety and well being of Children.

  • Name: Paul
    Date posted: 7/18/2008 12:04:00 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco, CA

    Comment:

    Nice to know that we can still bully gay kids in North Carolina and that our tourism is unwelcome in South Carolina!



More Online Only
  • News Celebration of Courage Not So Courageous

    Advocate contributor Michael Lucas says the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission needs to be doing more to stop violence against gays and lesbians in countries "oppressed by Islam."

  • Commentary The Truth Behind Her Name Was Steven

    Advocate contributor Eden Lane says CNN's Her Name Was Steven will help raise the visibility of trans people on TV, but the most compelling part of Susan Stanton's journey was left to a title card at the end of the film.

  • Television Laverne, Surely

    I Want to Work for Diddy alum Laverne Cox leads a trio of transgender ladies in VH1’s Transform Me, a new makeover show that flatters her hooker-heavy résumé.

  • Music Cherie’s Jubilee

    With The Runaways, the new film about her life with Joan Jett, pioneering rock star Cherie Currie is enjoying a renaissance ... with a little help from Dakota Fanning.

  • Activism Sex-Ed Student Turns Teen Activist

    When sex education classes at Danny Sparks's high school failed to address the issues important to him, he took matters into his own hands ... and became an activist in the process.

  • Photography Slideshow Flag Artist Spotlight: Ryan Colford

    From his "candy shoppe" line — sweet treats made oh-so sexy — to his black and white studies of the male form, photographer Ryan Colford exposes the beauty of the male body.

  • Commentary What Massa Could Learn From Ashburn

    COMMENTARY: Matthew S. Bajko says Republican California state senator Roy Ashburn deserves praise for coming out of the closet despite his antigay voting record. Now, if only former congressman Eric Massa would follow his lead.

  • Music The Truth About Tracy and Kim

    Don’t be tardy for this party! DJ Tracy Young comes clean — mostly — about her rumored lesbian relationship with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak.

  • News Video Content Flag Kids Say the Darndest Things

    Micah Schraft and his boyfriend, John, were filming Micah's family at Thanksgiving when the 5-year-old son of a family friend wanted to know if the two were husbands. The result is a video you have to see. 

  • Commentary The Importance of Being Counted

    With benefits from boosting hate-crimes and marriage equality laws to simply letting legislators know gay Americans indeed exist, the 2010 Census is a chance to stand up and be counted.

  • Marriage Equality We Now Pronounce You ...

    When Jonathan Howard and Gregory Jones found out Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest was open to couples holding commitment ceremonies, they entered. Now, they have a good shot at winning.

  • Music Matt Morris: An Ideal Husband

    Singer-songwriter and Out 100 honoree Matt Morris talks RuPaul’s Drag Race, coming out to pal Justin Timberlake, and the big secret to being a successful gay artist.

  • News View From Washington: Showdown

    The effort to end "don't ask, don't tell" heated up this week with the introduction of Senate legislation. But lawmakers are now facing off with the military over when to pass repeal.

  • DVDs Hot Sheet: Greek, Groove, and Alice

    This week Greek wants you to think back to your frat days, Johnny Depp is looking to explore the Mad Hatter's Gay Days, and Little Boots goes after Gaga's gays.

  • Politics Perez Talks Prop. 8, HIV, and the Economy

    John Pérez (left) became California's first openly gay assembly speaker on Monday. By Tuesday he was laying out his agenda for issues including HIV funding, jobs, and reinstating marriage equality in the Golden State.

  • Music Keeping Up With Ke$ha

    The hard-partying “Tik Tok” singer lives up to her wild reputation with stories of a fantasy all-girl sleepover with Shakira and Sarah Palin, bashing critics of her bisexuality, and sharing her love of trans women.

  • Television Casting Dancing With the Gay Stars

    NOM's Maggie Gallagher facing off with antigay Rep. Sally Kern? Neil Patrick Harris upstaging André Leon Talley? The Advocate makes its picks for the ultimate gay Dancing With the Stars lineup.

1037 COVER X135 | ADVOCATE.COM