W.Va. aiming to protect LGBT students from bullies

[The Philosopher]

from seattlepi.com

A proposed anti-bullying policy for West Virginia schools acknowledges for the first time that sexual orientation and gender identity are common reasons for harassment. Had it been in place when Michael White was in middle-school, it might have spared him the worst years of his life.

"When I heard about this, I started crying because it's been a long road," said White, a 21-year-old junior at Fairmont State University who was bullied for being gay as a teen in St. Albans. "This is very, very necessary, and I really think it will be a massive step toward equality."

The Department of Education is taking public comments until 4 p.m. Tuesday about the 75-page student conduct and disciplinary policy. The assistant state superintendent will lay out the policy for the board Tuesday in Charleston. A vote is set for Dec. 14. If approved, the changes that acknowledge the targeting of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students would go into effect July 1, 2012.

The civil rights group Fairness West Virginia lauds the enumeration of reasons why children are bullied as "a landmark achievement" that effectively provides political and legal cover to teachers, counselors and others who might hesitate to intervene for an LGBT student.

"Teachers may feel they're putting their reputation or job at stake by protecting a student," said executive director Bradley Milam. "But now, they can simply point to the policy."

It also tells those students and their families that they have the right to protection, he said.

But the Family Policy Council, which has long opposed protections for people based on sexual orientation or gender identity, calls the policy "dangerous and expansive." President Jeremy Dys contends "bullying should be defined by a person's actions, not the status of his victim."

The West Virginia Family Foundation, meanwhile, says it's a "well thought-out, well-crafted design, done for no other reason than to promote the homosexual agenda."

"They're trying to force a lifestyle that a majority of the people of West Virginia do not want their kids exposed to. It undermines their values and their religious teaching," President Kevin McCoy said Monday.

If it passes, McCoy said, he'll demand lawmakers repeal it.

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[RKP5637]

1. Why do these people always stick "Family" in the names of their bigoted

groups. Our family certainly does not agree with these jerks. It's getting so anytime one hears Family used it's a huge negative. Damn I'm tired of the bigots and hatred junkies in this country organizing under the banner of Families or Religion.

[NMMNG]

2. Propaganda

They're trying to own terms like family, marriage, values, morality, etc. That way they can pretend anybody who isn't in full agreement with them is in opposition to those things.

[RKP5637]

3. Didn't a lot of this start too with Gingrich? It seems it started with his "Contract with

America" crap, etc. "The Moral Majority," etc.

[NMMNG]

4. Lots of it started in the late 80s

The fall of Communism left the fundagelicals with no "other" to hate. Without some common enemy they were lost. Enter The Gay Agenda. Next thing you know, Teh Gays were the biggest threat to the American family, Christianity, and American Society in general.

[RKP5637]

6. Yes, it was, wasn't it. Hate is always their core theme. Everything they talk

about for the most part is hating this one or that one. I think more and more it's an endemic brain function with them. I used to think it was conditioning, but more and more I'm starting to conclude they are organically predisposed toward hatred. And in parallel their unshakable belief systems.

[William769]

7. It actually started in 1979 with Falwell's moral majority.

And can go as far back as 1976 with Falwell. It's a legacy he has left which will haunt America for some time.

[RKP5637]

8. Ah, yep, it was Falwell with the moral majority! I got that part confused with Gingrich. I'm

so glad Falwell is gone. In my book he was a very very evil individual.

[MountainLaurel]

5. Sending a comment shortly

On behalf of a friend of my brother's who shot himself as a young man rather than tell his WV Catholic family that he was gay.