Taking a cue from a LGBT anti-bullying bill that passed in Florida last year, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) has introduced a bill that would help protect gays and lesbians from bullying in schools.
“Our nation’s civil rights laws protect our children from bullying due to race, sex, religion, disability, and national origin,” said Franken “My proposal corrects a glaring injustice and extends these protections to our gay and lesbian students who need them just as badly.”
Democratic Rep. Jared Polis, of Colorado had already introduced the Student Nondiscrimination Act (SNDA) of 2010 in the House of Representatives in January.
Pro-gay organizations are already getting behind the legislation.
“Our public schools should be a safe harbor for our students, not a place of exclusion and ridicule,” said the American Civil Liberties Union Laura Murphy whose organization supports the bill. “The Student Non-Discrimination Act will go a long way toward protecting our students and will promote both equality in schools and a safer learning environment.”
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) said that nearly 33 percent of LGBT students missed a day of school in the past month because they felt unsafe.
“GLSEN thanks Senator Franken and the 22 Senate cosponsors for making a commitment to ensuring that LGBT students can learn without the fear of being discriminated against simply for who they are,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. “SNDA will send a clear message to schools that they must address the hostile environment many LGBT students face in schools.”
NDA is endorsed by more than 25 LGBT, education, civil rights, medical and social justice organizations including: GLSEN, American Civil Liberties Union, American Counseling Association, American Psychological Association, Interface Alliance, NAACP, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Council of La Raza, and School Social Work Association of America. —FA
