Comments on: Anti-bullying bill heads for vote, advocates says it’s life or death issue

By: A Fistful of Reasons, Part II: The Trouble with Bullies | Sara Puotinen: Professional Troublemaker

Wed, 13 May 2009 21:18:43 +0000

[...] if the schools that these students had attended had better anti-bullying programs in place (see this for [...]

By: James

James — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:38:56 +0000

The Minnesota “Family” Council doesn’t surprise me at all. They are simply a hate group fronting as a religious group. Apparently if you include the word “family” in your title you get attention, no matter how vile the message.

By: Ben Leichtling

Ben Leichtling — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:10:17 +0000

This really isn’t about anti-gay bullying and abuse. It’s about stopping all bullying and abuse. The bullies used whatever came to hand or mouth – their hatred of gays. The principals and school district administrators didn’t protect either boy, just like they don’t protect most targets of bullying and abuse. That’s why we need laws to force principals to act and to protect them from countersuits by bullying parents of little terrorists.

Also notice that none of the teachers or the other kids stood up to the bullies. Shame.

We also can’t and shouldn’t count on schools to protect our children from hurt feelings all the time. We must help our children develop the inner grit and resilience to know how to protect themselves from verbal harassment as well as from physical abuse.

Disclosure: In addition to having six children, I’m a practical, pragmatic coach and consultant. I’ve written books of case studies, “Parenting Bully-Proof Kids” and “How to Stop Bullies in their Tracks.” Check out my website and blog at BulliesBeGone (http://BulliesBeGone.com).

By: Chris Allen

Chris Allen — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:36:32 +0000

You know what boggles my mind? The Minnesota Family Council OPPOSES the inclusion of orientation etc. in this bill.

You know why it boggles my mind? Because Eric Mohat WASN’T gay. So what these folks are really saying is that they’re okay with their precious straight children (assuming they are straight) being labeled “gay” by classmates and bullied to the point of suicide.

How dumb do you have to be to see that this legislation protects STRAIGHT KIDS AS WELL AS GAY KIDS?

So… when one of the members of this Council has a child (who, of course, must be straight—sarcasm) who gets labeled “gay,” and bullied and bashed and beaten and commits suicide… the parents are going to be “okey-dokey” with it, and feel like their child’s rights were protected?

Sheesh.

By: Box Turtle Bulletin » The Consequences of Anti-Gay Bullying

Box Turtle Bulletin » The Consequences of Anti-Gay Bullying — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:30:37 +0000

[...] activists consistently oppose any effort to target and prevent anti-gay bullying. They say that programs which identify specific targets, including those tormented for being perceived as [...]

By: The 50 Spot: Oregon Sets Sights on Same-Sex Marriage » Equal Roots

The 50 Spot: Oregon Sets Sights on Same-Sex Marriage » Equal Roots — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:42:33 +0000

[...] how bullying toward LGBT students has resulted in physical abuse, emotional abuse, and suicide. So we’re glad to see that Minnesota’s state legislature is gearing up for a vote on a bi… that would create statewide anti-bullying programs aimed at educating students about the perils of [...]

By: Thursday’s Schools Roundup - Anti-bullying legislation / Loopholes and fuzzy stimulus guidance / Liberian ed reform « Twin Cities School Notebook

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:22:28 +0000

[...] propos of the anti-bullying before the legislature (that comes up for a vote soon), an Ohio family is suing their son’s school district for failing to stop the homophobic bullying that led their 17-year-old to shoot himself in the head [...]