Senators Franken And Gilibrand Introduce Bill To Protect LGBT Youth From Bullying

05/21/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Senator Al Franken is joined by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and twenty-one other Senators in introducing the Student Non-Discrimination Act. The act is intended to protect students who are or are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender from bullying, harassment and intimidation. Bullying towards LGBT youths is a common problem, and far too many (one is far too many!) commit suicide over the constant harassing. Others may end up putting up fronts and even adopt behaviors which are self-destructive including doing drugs and alcohol because of the bullying. While some such as Kentucky candidate Rand Paul might believe that people will do the right thing, bullying occurs because people will not do the right thing and treat people with respect. Thus, we need laws to try and curb behaviors which hurt others and society as a whole.

According to Senator Franken, “Kids need to feel safe in their schools in order to learn. Our nation’s civil rights laws protect our children from bullying due to race, sex, religion, disability, and national origin. My proposal corrects a glaring injustice and extends these protections to our gay and lesbian students who need them just as badly. No student should have to dread going to school because they fear being bullied.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand weighed in and stated this in the same statement that went out to reporters: “All children should always feel safe and secure in our schools. While at school to learn, some students are forced to endure harassment, violence, bullying, and intimidation because of their sexual orientation. This is completely unacceptable. Our laws ensure that all students have access to public education in a safe environment free from discrimination, and these laws must guarantee these same protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students. This is the only way to ensure that every student has the opportunity to achieve his or her God given potential.”

Nine in ten LGBT youths have been bullied. The recent example of Constance McMillen in Mississippi is a prime example. She ended up having to transfer schools in order to get away from the harassment.

Openly lesbian New York City Councilor Christine Quinn stated “We have a responsibility to provide every student with a safe and inclusive learning environment. For the past two years, we’ve been working with advocates and community members to expand our Respect for All program in New York City. However, this is an issue of national scope and I thank Senator Gillibrand for recognizing this. Because of her work on the Student Non-Discrimination Act students across the nation will be provided create safe, supportive learning environments, and I commend her for this act of leadership.”

Hetrick-Martin Institute Executive Director Thomas Krever went on record as saying: “The Hetrick-Martin Institute, our nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service provider commends Senator Gillibrand and those vanguards of human rights who recognize that education – free of discrimination, bullying, victimization and abuse – is not a privilege, but a right . We applaud this act of legislation that sends a profound message to our nation’s most vulnerable population; its youth, and to those that care for them, adults, that equality for all and the dignity that accompanies it, will now be fully realized and that all young people – regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity truly do matter and actions contrary to this will no longer be tolerated.”

According to the press release: “The Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) would establish a comprehensive federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It would forbid schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior. SNDA would also provide meaningful and effective remedies (loss of federal funding and a legal cause of action for victims) for discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, modeled after Title IX.”

The full list of sponsors is:

SNDA is co-sponsored by Senators. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Robert Menedez (D-N.J.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is up for election this year. It is likely that she will win due to a lackluster Republican field.