Going to school without fear is not a 'special right'
Herald-Leader
March 18, 2012 - On Tuesday, Kentucky House Bill 336, legislation that would have protected students from being bullied, was defeated in a narrow, party-line vote in the House Education Committee. Ten of our representatives voted against it after hearing emotional testimony from several parents whose children had committed suicide after relentless bullying. Three committee members didn't bother to vote at all. Some of these legislators cited an anti-bullying law already on the books as their reason for opposing the bill. However, their logic falls short. To pass the "Golden Rule Act" in 2008, lawmakers stripped that bill of any specific language so that the law protects "everyone." The problem is that "everyone" language rarely works. That's why a bill like the Civil Rights Act had to be enacted in 1964, to specifically call out discrimination against blacks as lots of folks chose to just not include them as "everyone."
Bullies
Courier-Journal
A shameful vote
Courier-Journal
March 15,2012- Darryl Denham’s anguish came through loud and clear in his piece in the Jan. 29 Forum section. Lamenting the suicide of his 13-year-old son, Sam, the Covington, Ky., father wrote: I could have maybe accepted a car accident or illness, but not this. Not Sam, not my little sweet innocent baby boy. He was still afraid of going downstairs at night sometimes by himself. Shortly after Sam’s death, we learned it was bullying that drove him to suicide — name-calling, incessant harassment at school. “Kids just being kids,” some would say. Our son deserved better. He deserved to feel safe in his own school. Everyone should feel protected where they learn, work, play and live.
House Panel Could Hold Hearing on Fairness Law
WFPL
March 13, 2012 - The House Judiciary Committee has posted a bill that would create a statewide fairness law to its schedule, which means the anti-discrimination legislation may receive its first ever hearing in the General Assembly as early as next week. Gay rights advocates have been lobbying state lawmakers for over a decade to bar discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Across the state, only the cities of Louisville, Lexington and Covington have passed laws giving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals civil rights protections.
Anti-bully bill fails, parents want tougher law
WDRB
March 13, 2012 - Some legislators say an anti-bullying law is not needed for Kentucky schools. Parents of children who were bullied and killed themselves over it spoke to legislators with the House Committee on Education. Parent Travis Campbell says, " Feb. 4th of this year, my daughter Miranda took her life." Darryl Denham says, "On October 14th, our lives stopped and will never be the same again." His son also committed suicide. Cynthia Logan says, "I lost my daughter in 2008. Her name is Jessica Logan." All of those parents hope their similar stories will persuade legislators to vote for House Bill 336. They brought in pictures of their children for legislators to see. They want them to think about their children and others who are the victims of bullies in school and online.
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