Anti-Bullying Legislation Introduced

With the string of recent LGBT suicides in America, legislation has been introduced in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate to control harassment of gay and lesbian students.

Under the legislation introduced by Representative Rush Holt (D-12th District) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), colleges across the nation would be required to write anti-harrasment policies. Part of those policies would have to include recognition that cyber-bullying is a threat to students. The legislation is named The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act. Mr. Clementi committed suicide in late September after he was harassed by his Rutgers roommate. The legislation would also require all colleges receiving financial aid dollars to initiate anti-bullying programs, for which the act would provide funding.

Meanwhile in New Jersey, state lawmakers are debating a comprehensive anti-bullying law. This state law would require all public K-12 teachers to complete training on bullying and harassment. The law would also require that schools expel students who harass or bully other students.

While the new federal legislation, should it pass, will not go as far as the New Jersey anti-bullying law, activists across the country are praising the efforts. Steven Goldstein, chairman of Garden State Equality, said: "[The law] will complement the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights that New Jersey will pass." Important to note is that most colleges in America already have anti-harassment policies. The new legislation would require the schools, however, to inform students on how to report bullying.

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