5/7/2009 - Yesterday afternoon the North Carolina Senate passed S.B. 526, the School Violence Prevention Act, on the second of two votes. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. The Senate's action is a huge step towards making all students, including LGBT students, safer in their schools.
The bill would require school districts to adopt strong, research-based anti-bullying policies that have a definition of bullying that clearly protects students from bullying and harassment based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, among other categories.
"The NC Senate made history, standing up for the safety of all students, and for the first time passing legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity," said Ian Palmquist, Executive Director. "Although the House has passed similar legislation in the past, we must all keep working hard to get this bill to the governor's desk, as passage is far from assured."
Equality NC is a leading member of Prevent School Violence NC, a coalition of organizations working together to pass this bill and make all students safer in schools.
"We couldn't have achieved this victory without our amazing coalition partners, our incredible staff, and our dedicated volunteers and activists across North Carolina," said Palmquist.
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