Anti-bullying bill gets committee support after emotional testimony

Perhaps Tom Prichard and his demented bunch who have cloaked themselves and their sick opinions in the word “family” need to have the concept of bullying demonstrated to them in a manner that they will understand.

“We believe it will result in the indoctrination and intimidation of teachers and students who object to homosexuality who believe it is not healthy and should not be promoted,” said Tom Prichard of the Minnesota Family Council.

I do not believe it is wise to prescribe categories of bullying because all bullying is wrong and some categories will be unanticipated. The statement by Tom Pritchard however, explains why special interest groups feel the need to prescribe categories. It would appear from his statement that Mr. Pritchard believes that homosexuality is a choice that needs to be discouraged by teachers. That is because Mr. Pritchard is ignorant. Homosexuality is not a choice to be discouraged. It is a naturally occuring variation from the norm. It is not a choice.

If uninformed teachers lead students to believe that homosexuality is simply a bad behavioral choice, then bullying will continue to occur. Teachers should fear that they will face sanction if they pass moral judgement on a child who is uncertain about sexual orientation, especially if they overlook bullying because they believe that is a check on that behavior. Most of the teachers of my children understood this.

How students feel about this is irrelevant in the sense that bullying for any reason is not acceptable. How teachers feel about this is very relevant. Any public school teacher that believes that homosexuality is unhealthy should relinquish that belief or be fired. Homosexuality is not to be promoted or discouraged. It is a natural fact and reflects the infinite variety of nature. It doesn’t need to be promoted, it needs to be accepted.

It is telling that Mr. Pritchard refers to teachers and students who “object to homosexuality” as though they are equal players. It is the job of a teacher to teach respect for all human beings.

It would make more sense to to hold teachers, administrators and School Boards accountable for the way that they handle bullying of any kind.

Good comment Ron. It may help the case considerably to explain that protected groups need to be specified not because of kids, but because of administrators and teachers who find bullying for some causes acceptable.

I would have been elated to see this sort of legislation when I was growing up. Speaking as someone who was a MAJOR target of bullies all his life. (I can recall in elementary school several occasions when 30+ kids would gang up to beat me, I can recall other times when I would be thrown into thorn bushes, and spat on.) this is exactly what is needed. I had many teachers who gave me the oh-so-helpful advice of “Oh just suck it up.”

I tried that. Let me tell you what happens to kids who follow that advice, when they are constant victims of bullies. Each event, no matter how seemingly small, or insignificant, takes a toll. Eventually, emotions a child is unprepared to deal with, well up, and the child explodes at his peers, often becoming a public display. I can recall times when I was brought to tearful screaming at other students, right in the middle of class time, there was another time when I broke a reinforced plate glass window, with my forehead.

I was one of the lucky ones, any violence I expressed, I only expressed to myself. And as damaging as this can be, it’s still a better option than other children, who end up bringing a gun to class with them.

For the record, yes, I am gay, though not obvious about it in my appearance or demeanor, so this was not the main focus of bullying against me, but it was a part of it, I never had a girlfriend, never showed interest in one, and that would tip others off. Even with homophobic bullying only playing a small role, the result was that I was uncomfortable exploring relationships or my own sexuality until I was 21 years old. 21, before I even tried to start dating.

To this day, I have issues with worrying about such things continuing to happen to me, even though I’m now almost 30. Bullying carries a heavy toll to anyone who is victimized by it, never, EVER, think of it as some sort of “Character building”, it’s torture. Plain and simple. Torture does not build character, it attempts to destroy it. I can be thankful now that my character was strong enough to get me through all 13 years of my school life without putting a bullet in my head, or putting a noose around my neck. But sadly, there are far too many kids out there who will not have that strength. And others, who although will survive, will be irreparably harmed by bullying.

This measure is a wonderful thing to see, I truly hope it helps to at least put a dent in the problem of bullies.

Gabarus,

I was also the target of thugs as a kid, for six very long years, from grades 4-9 until we moved out of the midwest. It was hell–being stripped and forced to the floor of the gym locker room, and having my genitals smeared with glue; having my head smashed into the lockers; being tripped on stairs (and enduring a knee injury that’s coming back as arthritis in middle age), dreading going to school. Let’s callthis what it is: assault and battery (felonies), not “bullying”. If adults did these things to other adults, they’d go to jail.

I’ve been financially and professinally successful, but my life has been badly affected. I have struggled with depression, and I have a lot of trouble trusting others. I think about the abuse a lot, and it takes effort to go to a gym now because of the locker room memories. It’s hard to fully like myself, and at times I contemplate suicide despite being a pretty well put together person in a stable relationship.

The amazing cruelty of these so called “Christians” and “family advocates”–trying to prevent the state from protecting children from brutality because they’re gay, or perceived to be. I guess they beleive that gay people are so disgusting that they deserve to have their lives mauled.

Gabarus,

I was also the target of thugs as a kid, for six very long years, from grades 4-9 until we moved out of the midwest. It was hell–being stripped and forced to the floor of the gym locker room, and having my genitals smeared with glue; having my head smashed into the lockers; being tripped on stairs (and enduring a knee injury that’s coming back as arthritis in middle age), dreading going to school. Let’s call this what it is: assault and battery (felonies), not “bullying”. If adults did these things to other adults, they’d go to jail.

I’ve been financially and professionally successful, but my life has been badly affected. I have struggled with depression, and I have a lot of trouble trusting others. I think about the abuse a lot, and it takes effort to go to a gym now because of the locker room memories. It’s hard to fully like myself, and at times I contemplate suicide despite being a pretty well put together person in a stable relationship.

The amazing cruelty of these so called “Christians” and “family advocates”–trying to prevent the state from protecting children from brutality because they’re gay, or perceived to be. I guess they beleive that gay people are so disgusting that they deserve to have their lives mauled.

First comes the anti-bullying law, geared specifically toward the GLBT crowd, and then comes your liberal Democrat state representatives pushing for Same Sex ‘Marriage.’ You need look no further than your neighbor state to the south.

So, Peggy, are we to take it that you are Pro-Bully on general principles?

…Or just when the word “faggot” is involved?

I am sorry for what people that are “different” have to endure. By naming one group you leave out another. It needs to start at home. I do not think that passing any law is going to change bulling.

Maybe if the anti-bulling laws (rules) where enforced now, we wouldn’t need more “laws”.