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LEG I S, L-A T: \ V E NX. Senate passes anti-bullying Marks first time Senate has ever passed protections for gays by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff RALEIGH — An anti-bullying bill that would protect students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender-identity, among others, passed the North Carolina Senate May 7. On its third and final reading, senators passed the bill 26-22 with no debate. According to Ian Palmquist, executive director of EqualityNC, the vote happened so quickly that some Republican legis lators had to ask for their mistaken “yes” votes to be changed to “no.” The bill’s passage marks the first time in state history that the Senate has approved statewide protections for LGBT people. The bill now heads to the House, where it is likely to pass as is. Opposed by Republicans in both the Senate and House, the bill has created con troversy due to its inclusion of enumerated categories protecting students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender-identity, among others. During debate on the bill on May 6, Sen. James Forrester (R-Gaston), sponsor of an anti-gay marriage amendment, raised ques tions about the bill concerned that it would require schools to teach students about “homosexuality, cross-dressing and other alternative sexual behaviors.” School Violence Prevention Act sponsor Sen. Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover) defended the hill, telling Forrester he had simply misinterpreted it. Boseman is the state’s only openly gay or lesbian state legislator. The Senate twice voted down amendments that would have weakened the bill and the enumerated categories. Sen. Floyd McKlssick (D- Durham) said the enumerat ed categories were about providing con crete examples and designed to provide guidance and clarity to those school admin istrators who must comply with the law. Sen. Eddie Goodall (R-Mecklenburg, Union) said he knew anti-gay bullying was a problem, but declined to vote for the bill. 520 8TH. flV€. N. 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MHCKEL for boohing informotlon (femole Impersonotors/mole doncers) contort Ken @ 843-448-1180. lOom-lpm ujuuuu. ti meoutmbsc. com 12 MAY l6.2009*jNotes “I agree, that bullying gays and lesbians in high school is a serious problem,” Goodall said, “but the issue of the marriage amend ment in our state constitution and the failure to even get it passed or heard has muddied your bill. Sen. Boseman.” Goodall said that there is a perception that the failure to hear the marriage amendment has something to do with the push for protect ing LGBT students. “I can’t vote for the bill,” Goodall said. “I wish we could do something other than iden tify groups, but I think we have some work to go in North Carolina and that does include looking at putting marriage before voters in our state and I feel like this would clear up a lot of issues like this.” In a telephone conversation with Q-Notes following the May 6 debate on the bill, Goodall said he doesn’t think a person has to be opposed to protecting gay and lesbian stu dents to also be in favor of the marriage amendment. “I think we can have a marriage referen dum in North Carolina and also we can acknowledge that bullying gays is not going to be tolerated,” he said. “I was just trying to point out that these positions have been so polarized so much in the last two years, that the bill we probably had before us today is not what a large portion of the population thinks it was.” Goodall said he believes it is possible to protect students by enforcing existing policies. “We need to educate children about coming forth with these complaints. We need to tell them they don’t have to be bullied, that they have a right not to be.” Goodall said he voted against the anti bullying bill solely due to public perception. He reiterated his support for an anti-gay marriage amendment, but also said he was “very much in favor of stopping bullying of gays and lesbians.” Q-Notes contacted Gov. Beverly Perdue’s office, seeking comment on her position on the bill and whether she’d sign it if it reached her desk. By press time, spokespeo- ple with the governor’s office had yet to return our calls. In the House, the bill will likely face lit tle, if any, serious challenges. The bill origi nated in the House and passed twice in a previous session. The School Violence Prevention Act is one of two highly controversial bills impact ing LGBT students. The other, the Healthy Youth Act, would change the state’s absti- nence-until-marriage sex ed curriculum. The sex ed bill was also scheduled for the Senate’s May 7 calendar, but was pushed back into committee. I — At press time, the School Violence Prevention Act had yet to be heard in the House and the Healthy Youth Act had yet to be heard in the Senate. Visit www.q-notes.com for breaking news on these bills and other federal, state and local politics. The Hide"A"Way of Rock Hill, S.C. Rock Hill’s only private gay and lesbian bar Open Thursday thru Saturday 8:00 p.m. til 2:00 a.m. Thursdays - Free Pool Fridays - Karaoke Saturdays - Makaylah DuShot's Drag Show Review Coining Saturday, June 13: Pride Charlotte Preliminary Pageant “W/ffi Eyes Wide Open" - hosted by Makaylah DuShot represent the Hide-A-Way in an offidal preliminary to Miss Pride Charlotte Call for details to enter our pageant. The Hide-A-Way is a proud supfxrrter of the Catawba Care Coalition. 405 Baskins Road, Rock Hill, S.C. 803.328.6630 Call for directions. 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Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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