California Anti-Bullying Measure Named For Gay Teen Goes Into Effect
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) - A school anti-bullying measure named after a 13-year-old who killed himself after endless homophobic harassment by classmates is now in effect statewide.
"Seth's Law" is named for Seth Walsh of Tehachapi in Kern County. The legislation, by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), is intended to reduce suicides by gay teens.
"In Seth's case, his mother actually went to the school authorities and they did not act in a way that would have helped save Seth," said Ammiano.
The new law requires school districts to establish anti-discrimination policies - a provision that covers not just sexuality, but gender, religious and ethnic discrimination as well.
KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:
"There are individual school districts already that are doing this and that is very heartening," Ammiano offered. "San Francisco has been on the cusp of that leadership, before this bill became law."
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