Aiken Lobbies for Antibullying Bill

Clay Aiken headed to Washington last week for a Capitol Hill briefing to urge Congress to pass two bills that would require schools to address bullying and harassment aimed at LGBT students.

The American Idol alum appeared with Sirdeaner Walker and Tammy Aaberg, two moms whose sons committed suicide because of antigay bullying, to draw attention to the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act, according to the Washington Blade.

GLSEN organized the briefing.

"I was picked on, I was called gay, I was called fag, I was called sissy, you name it," he said. "Fortunately, I was able to overcome it and live through it because of a number of friends who were supportive of me."

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), who introduced the Safe Schools Improvement Act, and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act, also spoke at the briefing.

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