The Safe Schools Improvement Act has been reintroduced in the United States Senate by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)and lead cosponsor Senator. Mark Kirk (R-IL) - along with 15 other cosponsors. This is the first time that a Senate bill specifically addressing bullying and harassment due to actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity has been introduced with bipartisan support. I applaud Senator Kirk and members of the GOP supporting the bill's introduction. While legislation of this type should be a non-issue to sentient, rational individuals, the forces of the Christianist dark side of the Force, if you will, consistently oppose any legislation that might impede the ability of Christo-fascists to make life a living Hell for LGBT Teens. It's certainly not something that I believe Christ would support, but its indicative of the foul and perverse poison Christianity has become under the harlots of the professional Christian set and hate groups such as Family Research Council and the American Family Association. Here are highlights from the Windy City Times:*
The Safe Schools Improvement Act, which is endorsed by the over 80 members of the GLSEN-led National Safe Schools Partnership, would require schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that address bullying and harassment and ensure the safety and well-being of all their students. In the last Congress, the Senate and House versions finished the Congress with, respectively, 17 and 131 bipartisan cosponsors. A bipartisan House bill is also expected to be introduced in the coming weeks by Rep. Linda Sanchez.
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"Anti-LGBT harassment hurts the children of both Democrats and Republicans, as do all of the forms of bullying and harassment addressed by this important bill," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. "Senators Casey and Kirk show we all share a common vision of schools that keep students safe and focused on learning.
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Said Sen. Casey: "I am pleased to introduce the Safe Schools Improvement Act to help ensure that every child receives a quality education that builds self-confidence. This bill is a crucial step towards ensuring that no child is so afraid to go to school that he or she stays home for fear of bullying."
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Nearly two-thirds of middle and high school students (65%) said they had been bullied in school in the past year, according to From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, a 2005 report from GLSEN and Harris Interactive that surveyed more than 3,000 students. Students at schools with a comprehensive anti-bullying policy similar to the one required by the Safe Schools Improvement Act were less likely than other students to report a serious harassment problem at their school (33% vs. 44%).
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LGBT students experience bullying and harassment at an even more alarming rate. Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students (84.6%) said they've been harassed in the past year because of their sexual orientation and 63.7% because of their gender expression.
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"Every child has a right to a safe place to learn," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "NEA strongly supports the Safe Schools Improvement Act and ridding schools of bullying and harassment. Our children are America's greatest resource. And as educators, we want nothing more than to create a climate of civility and respect for all students, including LGBT students, in every public school."
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It would be wonderful if the bill passes both houses of Congress, but for that to happen politicians will need to stop prostituting themselves to Christianist extremists and put the welfare of children and youths first. Sadly, that may be expecting too much from today's GOP.
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