School anti-gay bullying law passed in California - PinkPaper.com

California-->progressive, behind the times, all over the place! California, finally a safer place for bullied students protected by a new law, is once again placing itself

ahead of the rest of the country having passed legislation titled ‘Seth’s law’, after Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old boy from California who committed suicide in 2010 following anti-gay bullying.

The new and legislation was passed by the state Senate on Friday. The bill, which was passed by 24 votes to 14, will require schools to address incidents of homophobic bullying and will help to equip teachers with the skills and knowledge to tackle cases of abuse relating to sexual orientation.

Prosecutor: Teen plotted Larry King's death | from 365gay.com

I've been closely following this case due to it's high profile in California, and also because of the perception that it will, most likely, set several precedents when it comes to hate crimes against gays in several ways. Thursday the prosecution has finally pointed out the obvious reason that Brandon McIlverney should be found guilty of manslaughter and hate crimes in this case.

 From testimony of a psychologist who interviewed McIlverney, it has come out that he had intentions of murdering King  (in 2008) up to four (4) days previous to the actual murder. The real issue in this case is not that he murdered King, but that it was premeditated and also a hate crime. Nazi drawings were found in his room and he holds some White Supremacy views from his upbringing. Regardless of his upbringing though, he acted upon only one statement made to him, according to two witness. That was a statement made in passing by King in the hallway apparently days before the shooting.

This obviously is a hate crime that was committed, but how the jury will feel is most likely another story. The reason I think that this has broad implications concerns not only the murder and hate crime committed, but also how the jury will make McIlverney answer for the murder. If they find him guilty of only Involuntary Manslaughter, then it might stir up more anti-gay sentiments in school settings and set the precedent for school administrators to continue their lackadaisical attitude towards gay related bullying and hate crimes in the school setting.

Something has to change in our schools when it comes to administrators and teachers looking the other way when it comes to bullying and anti-gay acts and hopefully, this will become the impetus for that change.

Another student files case against Minnesota school district.

(maybe with new limits)

The Anoka-Hennepin School District in Michele Bachmann's state of Minnesota is once again being sued by a student, claiming sexual harassment. Last month, PinkPaper.com reported that five students planned to sue the district after a policy which limited staff discussions about gay issues left them at risk of bullying.

The same month we also reported that a total of nine young students have committed suicide in the area – and all of them are said to be linked to homophobic bullying. Of course Bachmann, in the GOP run for the presidential election, will not answer questions about the lack of intervention by her and the school district regarding facing one of the highest rates of teen suicide, in the same school, in the country.

Prior to this five students have joined together to sue the school district in an effort to force them to change present policies that allow pervasive bullying against LGBTQ students legal.

 “This is yet another incredibly distressing example of how the district’s shameful policy has hurt kids,” NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell told the Minnesota Independent.

“The district has to stop turning its back on children, and recognize that its illegal policy that singles out those who are LGBT is the reason that so many children in their schools continue to be tormented — verbally, physically, and emotionally — every day.”

This case, in addition to the murder trial of Brandon McInerny, accused of shooting to death Lawrence King in 2008 (see previous posts), is another potentially important lawsuit that will certainly have an effect on not only how schools handle bullying against LGBTQ students or those with disabilities, but will also have a direct effect on Bachmann's run for the presidency. As of late Bachmann has taken the high road by not answering questions about the issue and the legality of school policy that allows students to be bullied.

We'll be following this case closely as it develops.

One Young Track Stars 5 Step Solution to Homophobic Slurs

I came across this young man's site and was astounded at not only his writing skills, but his maturity and solution to the problem of being called gay and having to listen to the "usual" slurs thrown about by the bullies and homophobics as they try to bully and belittle those who are different and don't meet their idea of "normal." 

This is a quote from his site:

"'You wouldn’t want to get beaten by some random homo,' my coach said, trying to invoke some form of energy from a teammate. Sitting on the center of an indoor track, we loosened up before our open 400 race. After 3 days of workouts we had both grown tired. 3 nights of restless sleep led to my unusually hazy mindset which forced me to question what I heard; eventually I grew certain. Upon further clarification my mouth began to hang agape and a feeling of perpetual free fall loomed in my stomach..."more

Click on more to read his story and amazing solution on how to handle these situations and check some of his links in the right side column.

Small NY School Board Tackles Bullying Issues Head On!

BENNINGTON BANNER, October 6, 2010 ZEKE WRIGHT Staff Writer CAMBRIDGE, N.Y. -- During a recent Board of Education meeting, board members took up the issue of bullying at Cambridge Central School. [Secondary Principal] Chris [Signor] and I dealt with some bullying this week," said Tammy Silvernell, assistant principal for grades 7-12. Signor told the board that the high school now has an informal policy in place, in which there is a record created and follow-up action on every instance of bullying, including cyberbullying through text message, Facebook, or e-mail. An incident of bullying among students, Signor said, began online and continued to the parking lot of the school on Monday, Sept. 27. Students Interviewed Signer said school administrators interviewed every student involved in an incident of bullying and met with parents, either in the office of by conference call. He said administration spoke to 13 separate students while in the process of investigating the incident. We're ahead of the curve, Signor said, regarding the school's efforts to curb bullying. Silvernell said that students involved in the most recent incident were surprised to be sat down and confronted by school officials with records of the exchange that took place on Facebook, both before Monday and then afterward.>br>

Most school districts are not currently taking action over acts of cyberbullying off school grounds, Signor said. Board member Deb Blanchfield said it was an issue not only in the high school but schoolwide. Blanchfield raised the issue of a don't tattle response by teachers of young children who report bullying. Board member Jan Woodcock called bullying a learned behavior that starts in the elementary. A woman in the audience said that teachers had to respond to bullying correctly. Signor reiterated that the school policy was for every instance to be reported and followed up on by administration. The same follow-up and recording of any instance of bullying takes place at the elementary school as well, Elementary Principal Colleen Lester assured the board. Lester said that bullying in the elementary school often involved a lot of "back and forth" between children, which administrators had to work through. Board President Tom Woliski asked if there were any plans to quantify the school's response to bullying. Signor said that results were subjective now, but that they might develop a way of creating hard data over time.