In December, we explored bullying issues in Florida schools. Yesterday, we explored gay rights in Florida. Today, the state of Tennessee rolled both into one, proposing legislation that could allow bullying of homosexual students if it is religiously motivated.
Readers may also recall that the state of Michigan attempted to pass similar legislation in November 2011.
Proponents of the bill claim that the goal is to protect free speech, and that having an unpopular opinion does not in itself constitute bullying. Opponents claim that homosexual students are already struggling in public schools, and that one student already committed suicide after experiencing relentless anti-gay bullying. If bullies are allowed to hide behind the "religious beliefs" stipulation, the number of suicides could escalate.
Hernando County public school students exercised their free speech rights today, expressing their views on the proposed Tennessee law.
"The right to voice your opinion is one thing, but allowing religious bullying, bullying of any kind for that matter, should not be permitted at all. Activists that are against the rights of the LGBT community have voiced their beliefs plenty, and I think allowing something like this would only cause more problems and hinder progress in the rights of any human being." -- Patrick Prentice, 14
"I don't understand how a religion that preaches an all-loving God, tolerance to everyone, and forgiveness for sins could expect something like this to be passed, and yet, still expect people to follow their beliefs and join their cause. It's perfectly fine if your religion and your beliefs go against homosexuality. It's expected that you form an opinion on such a controversial subject, and if that opinion does not promote homosexuality, so be it. But why should someone else be punished just because of your personal beliefs? They're entitled to love, just as anyone else is, and shouldn't be persecuted for going against traditional gender roles. And if one religion is allowed to do so, shouldn't it be everyone else's right to persecute that religion for their beliefs or their way of life? It only seems fair. I just don't understand why something that advocates intolerance towards love is actually being considered." -- Lyssa Moffett, 16
"Religious bullying... That itself is a contradiction. Doesn't God love everyone? Didn't He tell us not to hate because to hate is to kill, and to kill is to sin? There's nothing 'religious' about driving a homosexual to the last resort of suicide. There's nothing even humane about that. This bill is nothing but a lie in God's name that kids who bully for 'religious reasons' should be protected." -- Elizabeth Ballard-Forman, 16
"A lot of the LGBT community are religious people and still believe in God, so it's not really that the religion itself is against it. It's the fact that the people who supposedly practice the beliefs of said religion are aginst the LGBT." -- Shelby Ludwig, 15
"Any kind of 'bullying' is unacceptable. Religious bullying is just something based on prejudice. It's opinion, and nobody should be made uncomfortable just because of their beliefs." -- Angelina Campisi, 16
"Just because a person is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or whatever else does not give any excuse for someone to bully someone else. It's awful and disgusting. Doesn't God love everyone? So why does that give people that right to bully someone? Can't anyone be different without the punishment of bullying? I'm getting really sick of it. And now there's a law allowing it to happen? People need to acknowledge that bullying is a problem." -- Allie Zelakowski, 14
"I personally feel nobody should be bullied whatsoever! But what I read in that [Tennessee bullying law] article didn't sound like bullying. To be completely honest, if anybody wants to give their opinion about something, then they should be able to. People disagree with plenty of the things that others do, so it shouldn't be considered bullying when somebody is simply speaking their mind. The thing is though, if homosexuals want to be considered equal, then they are going to have to deal with people disagreeing with their ways. I do some things that others find weird, and they wouldn't do it themselves. People talk about their differences, too. It's in our human nature to do that, but it isn't bullying until someone feels threatened. I think this is just a case of homosexuals not being able to accept that they are different, just like everybody is different, and they are taking it too offensively. That's just my opinion though." -- Caroline LaFountain, 15
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