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)

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!

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