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Senator Gretchen Whitmer (D - Michigan) Slams New Michigan Bullying Legislation

Last Updated: November 03, 2011 8:10PM by Cyto

Detroit, Michigan - Senator Gretchen Whitmer, a democrat minority leader from East Lansing, Michigan, has slammed the new anti-bullying legislation passed by the Republican-led Michigan Senate.

The new anti-bullying legislation requires new bullying policies to be placed into schools across the state of Michigan. However, this bill allowed for bullying as long as it was due to moral and religious reasons.

This pro-bullying legislation passed the Michigan Senate 26-11 and is named “Matt’s Safe School Law.” All Democrats opposed this bill. 

In her response to the pro-bullying legislation, she states that

“… you may be able to pat yourselves on the back today and say that you did something, but in actuality, you’re explicitly outlying how to get away with bullying. Your exceptions have swallowed the rule. As passed today, bullying kids is okay if a student, parent, teacher, or school employee can come up with a religious or moral reason for doing it.”

She also stated that

“… this might solve a political problem that Republicans have, but be clear, you are papering over the problem that is a reality faced by hundreds of kids in Michigan schools every day. In fact, not only does this not protect kids who are bullied, it further endangers them by legitimizing excused for tormenting a student. And the saddest and sickest irony of this whole thing is that it’s called ‘Matt’s Safe School Law’ and after the way that you’ve gutted it, it wouldn’t have done a damn thing to save Matt!”

This law was inspired by Matt Epling, a Michigan teen who committed suicide after an anti-gay hazing incident.

The video posted below shows Senator Whitmer responding to this legislation.

Source(s):

http://www.detnews.com/article/20111103/POLITICS02/111030376/1022/Michigan-Senate-OKs-anti-bullying-bill-despite-protests

http://www.towleroad.com/2011/11/whitmer.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/gretchen-whitmer-michigan-senator-bullying-bill_n_1073928.html