My state's senate votes on an anti bullying bill on Thursday (the bill covers gays)

[dsc]

The state is NC. Here is the letter I wrote to my state Senator.

I am writing to ask you to support House Bill 1366, the School Violence Prevention Act. I am writing this as a former student. For me it started in first grade with a gym teacher who repeatedly taunted me for my lack of atheletic skills. By middle school I was widely preceived to be gay and was called fag so often I literally began to think it was my name. In addition to the name calling there was constant humiliating pranks and sometimes violence. By early high school despite being a very sucessful student I hated going to school. I don't really want to go into every detail but I was terrorized at school and even had teachers tell me I deserved it because I wasn't manly enough. Fortunately by mid high school a student I tutored on the football team put a stop to some of the worst abuses. I don't want any other kid to go through what I did. I don't want another kid to think he would be better of dead than gay.

I also am writing to ask you support this bill as a teacher. I am fortunate enough to currently work in a district with an anti bullying policy that includes sexual orientation. That hasn't always been the case. I remember when I first started out as a new teacher and being literally the only one who banned bullying of gay and lesbian students. It is slowly getting better for gay students. One reason is more teachers like me find themselves backed up when we enforce such policies in our classrooms. Both teachers and students need a strong anti gay policy to point to in order to say to parents and students that this behavior isn't right, isn't moral, and isn't going to be tolerated.

This bill isn't about special rights. It isn't even about equal rights. It is about physical and mental safety. It is no less about if LGBT students are people worthy of the very least a society can offer. Bare physical and mental safety is literally the very least a society should provide its members. I made it out of high school. Way too many of us don't. This bill is one small step to lower the number of us who don't.

[democratsin08]

1. i think we all need to toughen up

anti bullying? whats next? anti-mean? anti-arrogant? anti-too smart?

[dsc]

2. I hope you never, nor your children ever, spend a night

think about how best to compose your suicide note so those left behind know that they aren't why you killed yourself. I would suspect that though if you don't you will never understand why such a bill is needed.

[democratsin08]

4. a bill from the govt

wont stop suicide. self esteem does and self esteem and self worth doesnt come from the government.

[dsc]

5. no but it can be destroyed by constant humiliation

which is what more than a few kids face.

[democratsin08]

3. an example

there was a girl that always picked on me in 4th grade because back then i was chubby. that was one reason i am the slender girl i am today. anyway, one day she shoved my face down in the water fountain when i was trying to get a drink. out of the blue i turned aroud and popped her in the stomach as hard as i could. i dont want a law that forbids every offense or slight that goes on in school.

[dsc]

6. Here is a link to a different example

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1384594&mesg_id=1384594

[Akoto]

9. No offense, but you really have no idea.

I was bullied so badly in high school that I developed an anxiety disorder and dropped out. It's not a matter of toughening up. It's a matter of some kids simply not being able to take the unrelenting, unprovoked abuse (whether it be physical or mental) every single day. Once they pick you as a target? They never. Let. Up.

Years later, I'm still getting over the issues of panic and self-confidence those years caused me. Toughening up has nothing to do with it.

[cally]

7. I hope it passes

My eldest was bullied horribly. She was also a bright student, a bookworm, and disliked sports. I've posted this story before, but I literally saw her knocked down and kicked by two girls and the teacher and Principal refused to do anything. No one should have to go through what she did nor what you did.

Let us know if you get any response to your letter.

[dsc]

8. I will and will let you know if it passes

We are fairly sure it will. I do think, if only due to fear of suits, most schools have cleaned up their acts in this regard.

[Cairycat]

10. GREAT letter

I hope your rep listens to you. The perspective you offer both as a bullied kid and a student is valuable. I'm so sorry for what you went through, but glad you are now in a position to help kids.

A similar law was just passed in Iowa. Our new Dem governor came to speak to a state gathering of Gay-Straight Alliance students about it.

No, it won't prevent all bullying, or all self esteem problems but it makes it clear that bullying is WRONG and not acceptable.

[dsc]

11. I had read that

and congrats to Iowa.