NC to pass anti-bullying legislation.

http://www.feministing.com/archives/015415.html

(from the website)My best friend in high school was gay and I still tear up thinking about the harassment he received. We were freaks, outcasts, geeks, and we became close friends because I was teased for being a "smelly Indian" and he was straight up harassed for being gay. We were teenagers and we built power amongst each other against the ignorance of those around us, but that doesn't mean I am not still angry. Well, I guess I made a career out of my anger. That was 15 years ago and I still remember how poorly the school treated the bullying received by not just him, but all my friends that were "different."

In the last month there have been two incidents of young children that have committed suicide from homophobic harassment at school. Things haven't changed. Bullying is passed down from generation to generation.

NC has anti-bullying legislation going to the house that has added sexuality as a cause of bullying. Of course, there was opposition, but it was added anyway. Opposition to anti-hate legislation is bone-chilling since it so clearly articulates the stand-point of these crazy people. They don't believe in the rights of those with different sexualities, ethnicities, backgrounds, whatever it might mean. They are essentially saying, you are not a valuable person we don't value your life.

What frustrates me about bullying and therefore bullying legislation is that bullies grow up and become politicians, cops, lawmakers and apparently wing-nut Christians. Assholes continue to bully, just the mechanisms through which they bully changes. Trying to convince people that were bullies that bullying is a problem feels like an uphill battle. Obviously, legislation is a step in the right direction. In addition to policy that supports the rights of victims of bullying, we need education for young people around masculinity, sexuality and what the impacts of bullying are.

is horrible and starts at young age. Bullys don't discriminate at targets, if your child is different or "geeky" looking they can be bullied. My son who now is 21 years old once got into a fight in middle school because he saw a kid bullying another kid for being a geek. My son who was a by passer saw the poor kid being bullied and got into a fight with the bully. I never forget this because my son got home all beaten up and told me what had happened. I went to the school the next day and my son formally accused the other kid for bullying another kid. I don't' know what happened to that kid but i only hope this law passes everywhere and in all schools.

Complaints about bullying to a school headmaster were once rejected.

a more civilized version of the Ku Klux Klan...they utterly despise anything that differs from them.

My high school was extremely cliquish and this kind of crap went on all the time.