Franken pushes for anti-bullying legislation
Friday, November 19, 2010 at 8:36 am
- 10 Comments
At a Thursday press conferences, Sen. Al Franken advocated for stronger anti-bullying laws in schools in the wake of several suicides by LGBT students in Minnesota and around the country who were bullied. Franken wants anti-bullying policies included in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which will be debated early next year. He was joined by Tammy Aaberg, the mother of Justin Aaberg who took his own life in July after what enduring what friends and family say was anti-gay bullying.
“No student should have to dread going to school because they fear being bullied,” Franken said at the press conference. “With the spate of recent suicides in Minnesota as a result of anti-LGBT bullying, it’s clear that we need to do more to ensure schools are a safe environment for all students. Ending this bullying and harassment in schools will be a priority for education reform in the next Congress.”
The Anoka-Hennepin School District just north of Minneapolis saw as many as four suicides by LGBT students in the last year anti-bullying advocates say, and the district has encountered pressure to beef up its bullying rules and eliminate discriminatory policies.
Franken has authored the Student Non-Discrimination Act which would create a federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools against LGBT students or students who are perceived to be LGBT. He’s also supporting the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which includes anti-bullying protections based on race, sex, national origin, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Aaberg told politicians to “please put aside politics and personal beliefs and implement the policies that we know will help our schools be safe and affirming learning environments for all students. Whether they are straight or gay, they all deserve the right to an education…and the right to survive.”
Franken has been a strong advocate of anti-bullying legislation and has spoken out in the Senate about the issues facing LGBT teens. He recorded this video last week as part of the It Gets Better campaign started by sex columnist Dan Savage:
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter10 Comments
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 9:26 am
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: please run for President, Sen. Franken. Please?
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 11:22 am
I imagine the Marxist dwarf was bullied a lot growing up in St Louis Park.
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 11:48 am
Why do you say that Dennis? Because he stands strong for what’s right? Or does he seem like the sort of kid you used to try to bully, and you’re angry someon stood up to you?
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 11:58 am
Great example of bullying, Dennis. Exhibit A for Franken’s case.
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
Dennis – I’ve watched Al Franken back bullies like Bill O’Reilly down. You may not know this but Al was a wrestler in St Louis Park and I’m willing to bet that there wasn’t a whole lot of bullying directed his way – I suspect he could probably kick your ass in a debate or in the ring.
One other thing Dennis – just so I understand – can you explain the rules of posting comments? Is it one name/id per thread? or how does it work – I don’t want to break the rules and so many conservatives like you and Jimmy/Rudy/Raymond have so much more experience fudging the facts, ignoring the rules and trying to get around stuff.
Who better to explain it to the rest of us?
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
Comedians are the smartest people out there. I love Senator Franken. We need more of him.
Hey Dennis, I suppose you’re pro rape since Al Franken submitted a bill (with bipartisan support BTW) that withholds federal funding from companies which prohibit their employees from pursuing legal recourse when they were raped, for example.
Yea, that’s just a terrible example of liberal legislation, right? Whats a little rapin’ have to due with the right to pursue profits!
Comment posted November 19, 2010 @ 10:21 pm
I don’t think this should be a FEDERAL problem… It is a local affair and the
Federal Government should keep it’s ugly, over-stepping nose out of it.
We don’t need any Federal Mommy to take over every part of our lives.
Somethings are just not the purview of the Federal Government and
this is one. Schools are locally operated and administrated, not
Federally. Butt out!
Sen. Franken, read the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, you
know, the one you swore an oath to protect and follow. This power
does not belong to the Federal government. Please keep the Federal
nose out of our local lives.
Somchy
Comment posted November 20, 2010 @ 1:46 pm
This man is a hypocrite. He talks about ensuring net neutrality and then he voted for coica bill.
Comment posted December 18, 2010 @ 8:20 am
PQ wrote: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: please run for President, Sen. Franken. Please?”
Thank you PQ for your comment. I voted for Franken and yet, as I try to figure out who should replace Obama (who I no longer like), I didn’t think of the very man I voted for! (Yes, I feel a bit embarrassed). So from now on, in my AlterNet comments, I will constantly suggest that Franken should run for President of the USA in 2012. (I had been advocating for Independent Kevin Zeese–but that won’t work.)
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