call today to protect LGBT kids in schools!
from Equality Michigan:
Anti-bullying bill must protect ALL students! Call today!
The Michigan Senate is considering a new anti-bullying law, but the bill still lacks important components such as reporting requirements and specific protections for groups that are often victimized by bullying and harassment, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. There is still time to amend this bill before it comes to a vote — please call Senate leadership and ask them to pass a bill which creates real protections for Michigan students.
Senate Bill 137 will be considered by the entire Senate soon – please CALL Senate leadership and urge them to add these protections!
Listing protected categories, such as race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, does not just protect these groups, but strengthens anti-bullying policies for all students. Students in schools with these policies report less bullying and harassment, are more likely to report feeling safe at school, and are three times less likely to skip a class because they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Comprehensive policies are especially important for protecting LGBT students because they provide educators with tools to intervene and remove all doubt that LGBT youth are protected from bullying and harassment.
This bill also lacks critical reporting requirements. An effective reporting system for incidents of bullying and harassment is needed to allow Michigan to gather data on the prevalence and types of incidents, create real accountability for schools, and effectively target anti-bullying programs.
CALL TODAY -- Tell the Senate leadership to amend SB 137 to add crucial reporting standards and protected categories!
Please call both:
Senator Randy Richardville – Senate Majority Leader at 517-373-3543
Senator Rick Jones – Sponsor of Senate Bill 137 at 517-373-3447
You may use the following points when you make your call:
I am a student (or parent, educator, Michigan resident, etc.) who cares about safe schools. I’m calling today to thank the Senator for his leadership on the issue of school safety and ask him to include reporting provisions and specific protected categories in Senate Bill 137.
Listing categories of students that are specifically protected by the law protects ALL students, not just those listed. Of course the bill should protect all students, but listing categories will let educators and students know frequently overlooked groups of students should be protected.
Students in schools with these policies report less bullying and harassment, are more likely to report feeling safe at school, and are three times less likely to skip a class because they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Listing specific categories is necessary to make the bill effective. Research shows that students in states without enumeration have the same experience of bullying as students who live in states without any anti-bullying and harassment laws at all.
Reporting language is necessary to allow Michigan to determine the scope of the bullying problem and develop programs that effectively address it. This will help create real accountability for school districts.
I ask the Senator to show his commitment to protecting Michigan students by adding enumeration and reporting language to Senate Bill 137.
Thank the staff member for their time.
Anti-bullying bill must protect ALL students! Call today!
The Michigan Senate is considering a new anti-bullying law, but the bill still lacks important components such as reporting requirements and specific protections for groups that are often victimized by bullying and harassment, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. There is still time to amend this bill before it comes to a vote — please call Senate leadership and ask them to pass a bill which creates real protections for Michigan students.
Senate Bill 137 will be considered by the entire Senate soon – please CALL Senate leadership and urge them to add these protections!
Listing protected categories, such as race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity, does not just protect these groups, but strengthens anti-bullying policies for all students. Students in schools with these policies report less bullying and harassment, are more likely to report feeling safe at school, and are three times less likely to skip a class because they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Comprehensive policies are especially important for protecting LGBT students because they provide educators with tools to intervene and remove all doubt that LGBT youth are protected from bullying and harassment.
This bill also lacks critical reporting requirements. An effective reporting system for incidents of bullying and harassment is needed to allow Michigan to gather data on the prevalence and types of incidents, create real accountability for schools, and effectively target anti-bullying programs.
CALL TODAY -- Tell the Senate leadership to amend SB 137 to add crucial reporting standards and protected categories!
Please call both:
Senator Randy Richardville – Senate Majority Leader at 517-373-3543
Senator Rick Jones – Sponsor of Senate Bill 137 at 517-373-3447
You may use the following points when you make your call:
I am a student (or parent, educator, Michigan resident, etc.) who cares about safe schools. I’m calling today to thank the Senator for his leadership on the issue of school safety and ask him to include reporting provisions and specific protected categories in Senate Bill 137.
Listing categories of students that are specifically protected by the law protects ALL students, not just those listed. Of course the bill should protect all students, but listing categories will let educators and students know frequently overlooked groups of students should be protected.
Students in schools with these policies report less bullying and harassment, are more likely to report feeling safe at school, and are three times less likely to skip a class because they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Listing specific categories is necessary to make the bill effective. Research shows that students in states without enumeration have the same experience of bullying as students who live in states without any anti-bullying and harassment laws at all.
Reporting language is necessary to allow Michigan to determine the scope of the bullying problem and develop programs that effectively address it. This will help create real accountability for school districts.
I ask the Senator to show his commitment to protecting Michigan students by adding enumeration and reporting language to Senate Bill 137.
Thank the staff member for their time.
hopeful