Equality Ohio to Deliver 3,000 Constituent Postcards to Legislature
Postcards to Demand Reform of Ohio’s Anti-Bullying Law
November 15, 2011
Columbus, Ohio -- On Tuesday, November 15, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., Equality Ohio is delivering over 3,000 constituent postcards to the Ohio General Assembly demanding comprehensive reform of Ohio’s anti-bullying law. The postcards were signed by Ohioans across the state this summer.
Current Ohio anti-bullying law does not include sexual orientation and gender identity; it lacks protections against cyber-bullying; and, it does not require the training of school staff on responding to bullying. Ohio House Bill 208 (HB 208), currently in the House Education Committee, and House Bill 116 (HB 116), currently in the Senate Education Committee, would amend Ohio’s anti-bullying law to provide a clear prohibition of all bullying including bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, create a definition of bullying that includes cyber-bullying, and require school districts adequately train educators on anti-bullying policies. Equality Ohio and thousands of Ohioans are urging the House and Senate Education Committees to make HB 208 and HB 116 a priority.
Attention has been focused recently on bullying because of thevideotaped beating of a 15-year-old teenager in his high school class room for being gay. The attack occurred at Unioto High School in Ross County, Ohio, and was caught on camera as fellow class members watched one teen wait for the victim to enter the room, push him to the ground and continually punch him in the face. EO is also delivering 80,000 petitions to the Union-Scioto Local School District and holding a town hall on Wednesday, November 16th.
Equality Ohio Executive Director, Ed Mullen, explains the postcards and petitions are the voices of Ohioans telling their legislators that the time is now to keep our children safe in school. Mullen says: “Current law is ineffective and has not stopped rampant bullying and harassment in Ohio schools. These postcards and petitions are a message to our elected officials demanding comprehensive reform to Ohio’s anti-bullying law.”
Equality Ohio advocates and educates to achieve fair treatment and equal opportunity for all Ohioans regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. For more information visit www.equalityohio.org or give us a call at (614) 224-0400.
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