A Letter From The President

 Bob Dorr, PFLAG Omaha

 Posted on February 20, 2005

The classroom ideally is a place where all students have an equal chance to receive a good education. But all too often, taunting and bullying cause gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students—as well as those perceived to be GLBT students—to stop attending classes, to drop out of school and even reach the point of trying to commit suicide.

A bill introduced in the Nebraska Legislature would require each school district to develop and adopt an anti-bullying policy. Such a policy would set up complaint procedures for victims of bullying, and it would define the responsibilities of school staff members. The policy would include sanctions for the bullies.

Legislative Bill 627 defines bullying as conduct that disrupts a school’s ability to educate students. In some cases, the bill says, bullies single out victims based on someone’s actual or perceived identity with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. The reason for bullying might involve a mental handicap. It might be race. The bill lists a wide array of bullying victim classes.

The reason for bullying doesn’t matter. All students should be protected. Bullying should end. Omaha PFLAG strongly supports this bill, introduced by Omaha Sen. Gwen Howard.

On behalf of PFLAG, I testified at the public hearing on Feb. 14 before the Legislature’s Education Committee. My testimony included this: “Bullying can become a factor in school dropouts and even suicides. Students consistently show that GLBT youth have a much higher rate of attempted suicide than for high school students generally—three times as high, according to some studies.”

Some witnesses testified that they knew personally of GLBT young people who were hounded, bullied and harassed—and then committed suicide.

As is often the case, Omaha PFLAG is working with partner organizations. Michael Gordon, executive director of Citizens for Equal Protection, is coordinating public support for the bill. GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network), our partner organization in making Safe Schools presentations to college classes and community groups, also is organizing support.

At the committee hearing, Senator Howard said she already had heard from many Nebraskans—both youths and adults—who believe the Legislature should pass anti-bullying legislation. Those letters and emails have been placed in the record of the Education Committee’s public hearing.

Michael Gordon says the hearing went well. “The two students from Fremont who testified were articulate, engaging and very believable. When a student, who obviously wants to get an education and go on to college, said he was tired of being called a faggot every day, the senators listened,” Michael said.

The next step will be the Education Committee’s vote to either kill the bill or advance it for consideration by the full Legislature. Please consider contacting the individual members of the Education Committee, listed below with their phone numbers and emails, to express your support for LB 627:

Sen. Ron Raikes, chair: 402-471-2731. rraikes@unicam.state.ne.us
Sen. Gwen Howard, bill introducer: 402-471-2723. ghoward@unicam.state.ne.us
Sen. Dennis Byars, vice-chair: 402-471-2620. dbyars@unicam.state.ne.us
Sen. Pat Bourne, vice-chair: 402-471-2722. pbourne@unicam.state.ne.us
Sen. Gail Kopplin: 402-471-2627. gkopplin@unicam.state.ne.us
Sen. Ed Schrock: 402-471-2732. eschrock@unicam.state.ne.us
Sen. Elaine Stuhr: 402-471-2756. estuhr@unicam.state.ne.us

Two other pro-gay bills have been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature this session. Sen. David Landis of Lincoln has introduced LB 50, which would add sexual orientation as a protected class in the existing Nebraska Fair Housing laws. Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha has introduced LB 759, which would add sexual orientation to the job protection classes in the Nebraska Fair Employment laws. Please give those bills your support.

Bob Dorr, president