GOP Senate Candidate Joins Pro-Bully Caucus, Compares Anti-Gay Bullying To ‘Teasing’
9:22 pm - 04/20/2012
State and federal lawmakers have responded to the wave of school anti-gay bullying and the suicides that they contribute to by introducing legislation prohibiting schools from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Conservative Republicans oppose such efforts and have characterized anti-bullying legislation as an infringement of religious freedoms and free speech.
During an April 12th debate, Heather Wilson, a Republican running for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, joined the so-called pro-bullying chorus when she staked out her opposition to SB 555, the Student Non-Discrimination Act. The measure, introduced by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), would provide LGBT students with similar civil rights protections against bullying “as those that currently apply to students based on race and gender.” Wilson argued that the bill would violate students’ free speech rights and criminalize “teasing”:
Franken’s measure — which is modeled on existing civil rights laws — would establish a new law explicitly protecting children from harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The bill doesn’t criminalize speech; it targets harassment of LGBT students, requires schools to institute a policy of nondiscrimination and take immediate action to investigate and address it. Section 9(b) of the bill specifically addresses Wilson’s concern: “Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter legal standards regarding, or affect the rights available to individuals or groups under, other Federal laws that establish protections for freedom of speech and expression, such as legal standards and rights available to religious and other student groups under the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act .”
The bill, which was introduced in March of last year, has 37 co-sponsors in the Senate and a companion legislation introduced in the House has 157 supporters.
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.... i just cannot with this
During an April 12th debate, Heather Wilson, a Republican running for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, joined the so-called pro-bullying chorus when she staked out her opposition to SB 555, the Student Non-Discrimination Act. The measure, introduced by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), would provide LGBT students with similar civil rights protections against bullying “as those that currently apply to students based on race and gender.” Wilson argued that the bill would violate students’ free speech rights and criminalize “teasing”:
WILSON: I mean if somebody gets bullied for having, gosh a low voice — that’s never happened to me. … But I think one of the things why I don’t support the act is because I think it’s misplaced. They are things I’m willing to tolerate that I’m not willing to approve.
With respect to this particular agenda we have to recognize as parents that children tease each other because you’re short or you’re tall or you’re a redhead or because you’re ugly or because you’re smart or because you’re dumb or all kinds of differences and as parents we have to deal with that and strengthen our children to be comfortable with themselves and also to show empathy and acceptance towards others, but that particular act is so broad it would actually punish children and say that it’s prohibited to express an opinion with respect to homosexuality in the schools. I just think that’s wrong and it’s a violation of the First Amendment.
Franken’s measure — which is modeled on existing civil rights laws — would establish a new law explicitly protecting children from harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The bill doesn’t criminalize speech; it targets harassment of LGBT students, requires schools to institute a policy of nondiscrimination and take immediate action to investigate and address it. Section 9(b) of the bill specifically addresses Wilson’s concern: “Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter legal standards regarding, or affect the rights available to individuals or groups under, other Federal laws that establish protections for freedom of speech and expression, such as legal standards and rights available to religious and other student groups under the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act .”
The bill, which was introduced in March of last year, has 37 co-sponsors in the Senate and a companion legislation introduced in the House has 157 supporters.
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.... i just cannot with this
kri kri
Edited at 2012-04-21 07:09 am (UTC)
Also excuse me, ma'am, but I don't think children need to be subjected to ANY kind of teasing to build character. My baby sister's "friends" tell her to bark before she's allowed to speak to them in the lunchroom because she's "weird" and "a robot." Is that acceptable? Is that ~building her character~ and ~teaching her to love herself~? No, it's teaching her that she's the butt of every joke. It's teaching her that friendship means being mocked, and that's just not true.
One of my biggest fears as a parent was that my kids would be bullied.I know they had to put up with crap, but they're so much stronger than I ever was. One of the proudest days of my life was when I saw my younger daughter protect an even younger child from verbal bullying. And when some girls went after her a few years later for religious reasons (her dad is Jewish and she was wearing a Star of David) the school intervened.
I'm not sure anyone who hasn't been on the receiving end of this can understand it.
I'm not even going to argue this, I'm not. Kids are being driven to suicide, it's vile that we even need to argue beyond that. The kids are drying. They are suffering, they are hurting and they are dying. KIDS ARE DYING what more do we need to say here?
Oh, except they're GBLT kids and they just don't matter to these over privileged straight arseholes and their hatred
his daily affirmations with Stuart Smalley. They were pretty amusing!
...might be worth it anyway
You know what? As someone who was severely bullied and harassed throughout school and thinks it contributed significantly to my anxiety disorder, I'd actually be completely okay with criminalizing all of this. So the argument that legislating against homophobic bullying will punish these ~normal~ behaviors gets absolutely nowhere with me.
and as parents we have to deal with that and strengthen our children to be comfortable with themselves
FUCK YOU FOREVER. Victims of constant harassment and bullying aren't harmed because they're ~not strong enough~, they're harmed because constant harassment and bullying are damaging and no one should be forced to endure them, especially not children.
THIS.
I'm unsurprised these fuckers think that shit is acceptable.
Edited at 2012-04-21 05:15 pm (UTC)
Sadly, to expect otherwise would be the same as expecting porcupines not to have quills.
Look at your life, jfc...
What the fuck is so good about teasing that makes it okay? There is harmless teasing/ribbing that can happen between friends, but I honestly don't think children know how to execute that.
I'm so full of rage this morning. I need to walk away from the computer.
Their hypocrisy is mind blowing and stomach-churning.
*tries to get into mindset of icon*
What the fuck does this even mean?
Reminds me of the people who'll argue for ages over their right to use slurs, when all they'd have to do to avoid harming anyone would be to stop using a handful of fucking words. Jfc some people
HOW IS THAT VIOLATING YOUR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM