Iowa GOP Moves To Block Gay Bully Law
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
(Des
Moines, Iowa) Republicans in the Iowa Senate say they will use “every
method that's legal” to block legislation adding sexuality to a law
aimed at curbing bullying in schools.
The bill died earlier this month in committee (story) but was resurrected Thursday.
Because
the 50 member Senate is tied with 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats each
committee has two chairs, and both must sign off on which measures will
be debated.
Senate
co-President Jeff Lamberti R-Ankeny) said he will use the situation to
prevent the bill from coming to the floor for a vote. Republican Senate
Leader Stewart Iverson agreed to the move.
State
law requires school boards to have a policy on bullying, but the GOP
said including sexuality in the policy would “create special rights.”
The bill
would require public and private schools to add harassment prevention
goals to their school improvement plans by Jan. 1, 2006. It
specifically identifies intimidation based on age, race, religion,
national origin, gender and sexual orientation.
Not all
Republicans are in favor of Stonewalling the legislation. Sen. Mary
Lundby (R-Marion) said harassment of students is too important to Iowa
parents for the bill to die again without further debate.
Democratic
Gov. Tom Vilsack condemned the GOP move. Vilsack has been a strong
supporter of strict bullying policies. “We're going to continue the
effort,” Vilsack said in an interview with The Des Moines Register.
(Source)
Blog For Iowa 
Do ya think lamberti & iverson were bullies when younger?. Well they sure seem to be so now. This example shows exactly why we have to get progressive Democrats elected to the Senate. We need these bills to come out of committee so that they can be debated on the floor. That way the people of Iowa can see and hear for themselves just WHO IS FOR KIDS AND WHO IS NOT. So get to work & find someone in your area where repubs are in charge and work towards getting them out!
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We just had close to 400 people come to our “Organizing for the Common Good: Promoting Progressive Values” Summit on Saturday morning at Augustana College. And the two people who had the idear (yours truly) and knew how to make it happen (Cathy, Senator Bolkcom's big sis) were “inspired” to act mostly by the Pleasant Valley School District's shameful caving into the religious extremists who wanted to ban a book because it had a gay character. Here is my letter to my Senator, Maggie Tinsman.
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Dear Senator Tinsman,
I understand that the Republican leadership in the Senate will not allow debate on the anti-bullying legislation because they feel it gives
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I remeber in junior high school and high school all the names that were used as pagoratives (sp) against gays and lesbians. Names such as faggot, dyke, and queer to name just a few. I used to join in on the name calling. Untill after I graduated from high school I actually got to know a few men and women who were gay and lebian at my church. I am a memeber of People's Church Unitarian Universalist here in Cedar Rapids which is a welcoming congregation. Getting to know these fine men and women who were gay and lesbian changed my heart in a dramatic way. I regret the fact that I let my prejudices get the best of me in junior and senior high school. I am truly sorry I ever did it. To say that bullying is something that every child must go through to toughen up in life is truly a falsehood that should not stand. I for one was bullied in my childhood. Needless to say the bully that bullied me ended up with a 25 to life sentance through his action that bullying served as a gateway to other destructive actions. I ended up going to the bottle (alcohol) to ease the pain of my childhood. I am happy that I am over 11 years clean and sober. With that said though I don't think any child should have to go through what I or even my bully went through. In bullying no one wins. Everyone ends up a loser in one way or another.
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