Bay Area Students Ask For More Protection Against Anti-Gay Bullying
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) - Dozens of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered high school students fanned out across the State Capitol building today to press their lawmakers for tougher protections against anti-gay bullying. This comes as Democratic legislators are looking to revive a plan to include gay contributions in social studies textbooks.
El Cerrito High senior Irene Rojas-Carroll wants to see teachers and administrators take a more proactive stance when it comes to bullying.
KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:
"I hear slurs like, 'That's so gay,' " she said. " I just think it's important to understand that what they say affects other people."
Rojas-Carroll and 70 other California students met with legislators to urge stronger protections. A bill from San Francisco Assemblyman Tom Ammiano would require schools to have updated anti-LGBT harassment and discrimination policies. San Francisco State Senator Mark Leno has also introduced a bill that would require social science textbooks include a study of the role of LGBT Americans, something he says is recognition that has long been extended to African American, Latino and Asian Americans.
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