|
A letter writer (The Bellingham Herald, May 10) defends the Christian Coalition's opposition to sexual minorities in
the anti-bullying bill. She says there are laws against harassment of any student in our schools. This is not true. State
Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, said, "Currently, no law prohibits bullying or harassment of students by students
in school settings." That is why the anti-bullying bill was introduced.
Rick Forcier of the Christian Coalition
of Washington said, "The bill could be used to promote homosexuality." If protecting sexual minorities from harassment
promotes homosexuality, then protecting religious preference from the same harassment must promote religion, which it does
not.
The Christian Coalition did not oppose the measure in whole but only objected to the inclusion of sexual minorities.
After sexual minority protections were removed, the bill passed by 36-13. This exclusion will give school administrators the
excuse they need to provide a lesser duty of care to sexual minorities.
Harassment is unsolicited, unwelcome and
derogatory remarks about a person's religious preference, sexual preference/orientation or racial heritage.
The
Bible says, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge," Hosea 4:6. Our schools need to maintain an open door
to all who seek knowledge. Nobody should be excluded by harassment or abuse.
Unless our schools have the authority
to stop harassment and abuse, then the right to an education will be effectively denied to the children who fall outside of
the bill's protections.
Sheila L. Richardson
Bellingham
|
