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Written by Lisa Neff, Staff writer
Mar 24, 2011
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis and U.S. Sen. Al Franken recently reintroduced legislation to protect public school students from bullying, harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
At a press conference March 10 in Washington, D.C., the Democratic congressman from Colorado and the Democratic senator from Minnesota stood with Wendy Walsh, whose son Seth committed suicide after being bullied at school.
“Education is the right of every student regardless of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,” said the openly gay Polis. “It becomes more apparent with each case that this is a problem that is not going away. … The alarming increase in teen suicides has shown us just how far we are from making our children’s schools safe spaces.”
Franken said, “The high suicide rate for LGBT youth – as witnessed across the country over the past year – shows that we are falling drastically short in our efforts to protect our kids. I’m committed to passing this legislation to ensure that all of our children know that they’re safe in their schools and have someone to turn to.”
The Student Non-Discrimination Act would prohibit discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It also would forbid schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior.
Another measure, the Safe Schools Improvement Act introduced by U.S. Sens. Robert Casey, D-Penn., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., would require school districts that receive federal funding to adopt anti-bullying policies.
A third bill, the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act introduced by U.S. Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., and U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., would require colleges and universities receiving federal student aid to adopt anti-bullying policies.
