North Carolina didn't pass the anti bullying bill

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The bill passed both the House and the Senate but in different forms. We ran out of time to reconsile them. Had gay, lesbian and transexual students not be specificly mentioned (along with race, gender, and religion) this bill would have likely sailed through. This bill isn't about special rights for LGBT students, it isn't even about equal rights for LGBT students. It is about the state doing the absolute least it can do. Protecting all students, regardless of orientation, from constant abuse by their classmates for merely trying to receive the education the state promises to all is the absolute least we can do.

It would have been the first bill passed in North Carolina specificly protecting based on sexual orientation. I guess we can try again next year. Somehow these close losses are even worse than the ones we know we couldn't win.

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1. kick

[ShaneGR]

2. Questions...

What type of behavior and punishment was classified in the bill? Only thing that worries me is the system getting overwhelmed by kids screaming, "he called me x name" every 45 seconds.

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5. specific policy is up to district

so the behaviors would be up to them.

[IndianaJones]

3. I can't believe this...I encounter 100% support among adults for...

this kind of legislation. Literally.

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6. Christians have complained that their free speech rights would be affected

similar to hate crimes.

[marions ghost]

4. try again

:thumbsdown: sigh

just have to persist

[mentalsolstice]

7. I'm so sorry!

Bullying is a huge (hugh!!!!1!!) issue for me. As a disabled student who was bullied (in the 70s) it really brings up a lot of harsh memories (getting beat up daily, teachers telling you that you shouldn't be at their school, etc.). I know, firsthand, the impact it can have, all the way into one's adult years.

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8. I am sorry that happened to you

being different in any way in high school can totally suck.

[mentalsolstice]

10. I'm over it!

Yet, I want some adults, in charge, to take responsibility. As a victim, in hindsight, it wasn't the kid-bullies that let me down, it was the adults who didn't want to face up to the issue...and in this group I'll include teachers, bus drivers and my own parents.

On a good note, I'm happy with my life right now!

[dsc]

11. I am glad things are going well

I wish some adults had taken better responsibility when I was in school as well.

[SunDrop23]

9. Our state is hellared. I don't care what polls try to convice you.

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12. I think we are more like purple

We don't have a marriage amendment. We did pass this bill in both houses just not in the same form. I think we are moving a little more blue each day. I would love to see us pass both hate crimes and ENDA here.

[SunDrop23]

13. I used to think that, but lately I am not sure.

It could be because I live in small town NC a short drive from Ft. Bragg, maybe in the bigger cities it is purple.

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14. We might be fairly close to each other

I live on 95. My area is fairly red too but places like Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are all blue in the extreme.

[SunDrop23]

15. Depends on how you define "Raleigh"

Is Raleigh blue inside the beltline? Perhaps. But venture out to the "Raleigh" in southwestern Wake county and just over into Harnett and talk to the locals you'll be smacked upside the dead with Redness.