With gay teen suicides at near epidemic levels - including here in Virginia - one would think that any even remotely responsible legislator (not to mention anyone with a shred of compassion in them) would not vote for legislation that will basically lay out a blue print for bullying and bashing LGBT students. Yet that's exactly what the Republicans in the Michigan legislature just did. The law - called "Matt's Safe School Law" and named after Matt Eppling, an East Lansing 14-year-old who committed suicide after being bullied by classmates in 2002 - includes a section noting it doesn't abridge First Amendment free speech rights or prohibit expression of religious or moral viewpoints. Which is exactly the green light demanded by Christofascists who want the right to make life a living Hell for LGBT students who don't conform to Christianist religious views. Here are highlights from the Detroit News, including a lament by Matt Eppling about the gross defects in the law named after his son:
The Republican Party has truly become something sick and evil. Democrat State Senator Gretchen Whitmer did not bite her tongue and ripped the Senate Republicans a new one. She accurately noted that the law was gutted so heavily that it actually creates, as Whitmer notes in her speech, "a blueprint for bullying." Here's a clip of Whitmer letting loose on the GOP:
Why am I no longer a Republican? This type of vile bullshit. Not to mention the crap engaged in by GOP candidate Ben Loyola's staff.
The Michigan Senate passed an anti-bullying bill Wednesday over strong objections from Democrats and even the father of the bullying victim after whom the bill is named.
"Matt's Safe School Law" passed 26-11 with all Democrats voting against it. The bill is named for Matt Eppling, an East Lansing 14-year-old who committed suicide after being bullied by classmates in 2002.
The law includes a section noting it doesn't abridge First Amendment free speech rights or prohibit expression of religious or moral viewpoints — a provision Democrats fear could be used to justify harassment of gay, lesbian or transgender students.
"I am ashamed that this could be Michigan's bill on anti-bullying when in fact it is a 'bullying is OK in Michigan law,'" Kevin Eppling, Matt's father, whose letter was read by Sen. Glenn Anderson during Wednesday's session.
The Republican Party has truly become something sick and evil. Democrat State Senator Gretchen Whitmer did not bite her tongue and ripped the Senate Republicans a new one. She accurately noted that the law was gutted so heavily that it actually creates, as Whitmer notes in her speech, "a blueprint for bullying." Here's a clip of Whitmer letting loose on the GOP:
Why am I no longer a Republican? This type of vile bullshit. Not to mention the crap engaged in by GOP candidate Ben Loyola's staff.
No comments:
Post a Comment