Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Senator, Slams New Bullying Legislation (VIDEO)

The Republican-led Michigan Senate passed a new bill requiring state school districts to implement anti-bullying policies, but one Democratic senator believes specifics of the legislation don't go far enough.

Known as Matt's Safe School Law, the bill effectively bans harassment in schools and requires every district to have an anti-bullying policy. The law was inspired by Matt Epling, a Michigan teen who committed suicide shortly after a hazing incident.

But in a stinging floor speech, Senator Gretchen Whitmer expressed her dissatisfaction with the new law, which is said to create a special exception for bullies who have "a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction," as well as neglecting to protect to bullying against students based on sexual orientation or gender identity,

"You may be able to pat yourselves on the back today and say that you did something, but in actuality you are explicitly outlining how to get away with bullying," said Senator Gretchen Whitmer. "As passed today, bullying kids is okay if a student, parent, teacher or school employee can come up with a moral or religious reason for doing it."

Also expressing distate with the new law is Epling's father Kevin. "This is government-sanctioned bigotry," Kevin is quoted by the Detroit Free Press as saying, who said he is "ashamed" that lawmakers added the special language at the last minute.

Watch Whitmer's speech below:

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article identified Matt Epling as having been gay. His family has released a statement saying he was not gay.

Comments

[nts4906]

02:13 PM on 11/13/2011

Can smart kids make fun of religious kids then? Don't they have a moral obligation to try and protect them from their own stupidity.

[sanantoniowdw]

12:10 PM on 11/09/2011

Thank you Senator Whitmer! My son is a high school math teacher and he has had to intervene is a few cases of the harrassment of GLBT students. I applaud you and I also applaud the "It gets better project" that works to keep these young people from attempting or completing suicide.

I believe that your joining this organization would be a tremendous help. The following is the project's pledge:

THE PLEDGE: Everyone deserves to be respected for who they are. I pledge to spread this message to my friends, family and neighbors. I'll speak up against hate and intolerance whenever I see it, at school and at work. I'll provide hope for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other bullied teens by letting them know that "It Gets Better." www.itgetsbetter.org

Again thank you for coming out on this bullying issue and I hope you also will speak out on cyber bullying itself; the act of cyber bullying is used for many other issues. How sad it is that a teen would see completing suicide as an answer to a problem.

[carlnga]

02:22 AM on 11/08/2011

CONTINUED:How many more kids will lose out on the chance to go to their senior proms, graduate high school, go to college, marry and start a family of their own ALL BECAUSE WE DIDNT CARE ENOUGH TO PROTECT THEM SO THEY CHOSE TO END THEIR LIVES BY CREATING THESE LAWS. THESE LAWS NEED TO SPECIFICALLY BE WORDED IN A WAY THAT SAYS: IF YOU CHOOSE TO BULLY SOMEONE YOU WILL FACE LEGAL CHARGES.

PAIGE MORAVETZ AND HAYLEE FENTRESS ARE 2 OF THOSE WHO WILL NEVER HAVE THAT CHANCE. THEY COMMITED SUICIDE TOGETHER ON APRIL 16TH,2011 AS A RESULT OF BEING BULLIED. I HAVE SINCE MADE IT MY MISSION TO PUT AN END TO THIS BECAUSE I HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE THEM MY VOICE AND I WILL SPEAK AS LOUD AS I HAVE TO FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE TO UNTIL A NATIONWIDE BILL IS PASSED.

DO YOU HEAR ME CONGRESS AND MR PRESIDENT? SHAME ON YOU ALL!

[carlnga]

02:21 AM on 11/08/2011

The bullying will only stop when we make it stop when we make it illegal. It will end when we as a society end it, when we as a group show that it is not acceptable and punish those who do so. Most importantly when we as a nation hold these bullies accountable for their actions because until we do so it will continue to go on. The Bullies do it because they know there is nothing that can be legally done to them, which allows it to continue to happen. Each day when a child is bullied their civil rights are being violated, on top of that their rights to an education is taken away due to the fact that these kids live in fear while in their schools and in their classrooms.

I am personally sick and tired of turning on my tv in the morning or reading online that yet another child has taken their life! When does it end? I will tell you when it ends, not until someone in Congress is personally affected by it. I can bet their asses they would be on that so fast their heads would be spinning for a week. When do we as a society care more about our lakes and our bike trails ( at least here in Wisconsin that is) than we care about the children who will someday grow up and have to funtion as normal productive adults.

[Carligulos Larkin]

01:55 PM on 11/07/2011

We need to build us a Colosseum and get us some lions again... just sayin'.

[forhimwl]

02:35 PM on 11/06/2011

I think that the senator my be taking the language of that section a bit out of context. Here is the link for reference: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/billengrossed/Senate/pdf/2011-SEBS-0137.pdf

That section of the bill she is referring to (page 6, lines 1-4) is specifically calling out the protection each individual's right to free speech. On page 6, starting with line 20 is where the bill actually starts to define what bullying is.

People should be able to keep their first amendment rights. Saying something based on religious belief or moral conviction should be protected no matter what you believe. However, when that turns into bullying is when it becomes a problem. If you use your free speech in a manner that is bullying, you will be held accountable to those actions according to this bill.

[revamk]

08:26 AM on 11/07/2011

God, I hope you're right about this.

[Shain Ellison Thomas]

01:34 PM on 11/06/2011

Hiding behind religious beliefs, attempting to justify said beliefs, is cowardice.

[VagabondBull]

06:32 AM on 11/06/2011

So in Satanism, a recognized religion, stupidity is a "sin." Does that mean a self proclaimed Satanist in any Michigan high school can just start working their way through all the special ed classrooms with impunity? An Islamic extremist can begin harassing every non-Muslim in school? What if a student was raised by an Aryan Nation following family? Does that give them the right to bully every non-caucasian or LGBT student on the campus?

This law is worse than nothing, it's at least a 100 year step backward in time.

[AngryHarpy]

02:44 AM on 11/06/2011

You go girl! That was great! Unfortunately, it likely went over the heads of every Michigan Republican Senator. They'll never get the LGBT vote -- So why do anything to help LGBT bullying?

Here's Senator Whitmer's email address:

[e-mail]

I encourage everyone to send her an email and thank her for her words and for standing up for LGBT youth.

[Common sense for all]

01:33 AM on 11/06/2011

And the GOP keeps twisting the language. they call bills that will cut jobs a jobs bill. they call it protecting womens rights when they attack abortions. Constantly say 1 thing and it is always meaning something different when you check the details.

Sure it will pass the sniff test by the devout followers like Rush and Glenn that never read more than the headline and jumps to the conclusion.

Free Ice Cream for everyone act. things like that they would have as the cover title when the details contains free ice cream for the top 1% of income earners, and it needs to be paid by offsetting budget cuts elsewhere ( on the bottom 99%) So yeah free icecream is available for everyone just gotta make sure you pass the test to get it first. That is GOP today.

[Kevin Jacobsen Sr]

12:22 AM on 11/06/2011

I would love to see everyone either publicly, privately or both, take a moment to applaud Michigan State Senator Gretchen Whitmer for standing firm in her courage and conviction.
Sen. Whitmer should be commended for reminding America that Representative Government is supposed to represent us. We the people. Our children.
The # 1 purpose of that government is the safety and security of it's people from enemies both foreign and domestic.
Bullies are enemies and they cannot muster under a banner of religious or 'moral conviction' and violate the law.
The First Amendment is a protection under the law not immunity from it.
Perhaps "No Child Left Behind" is a failure of monumental proportion because these Michigan senators, indeed these former students, obviously don't get the First Amendment!!
Here ya go Michigan:

1776 July 4 - AMERICAN CHILDREN can never be subjects of a Monarchy.
2011 Jan 18 - AMERICAN CHILDREN should never be subjected to bullying - PERIOD!

kindnessabovemalice.org

[mm3264]

10:47 PM on 11/05/2011

Can I beat unconcious one of those who voted for this law. After all I have morals and they don't.

[mm3264]

10:43 PM on 11/05/2011

I'm suprised they also didn't add stoning was ok. The Republicans want to take the country back, (200 years) Americans want to take the country forward.

[PublicCitizen21044]

06:14 PM on 11/05/2011

Why not try reconciliation measures between the bullies and the victims and assist them thru mediation in understanding each other and how their behaviors affect each other and then get them to source their issues and then highlight what they have in common and then have them sign a neutrality pact with enforceable measures that tie them to each other such as declaring that the offending person will have to carry the books of the other books and attending class as their buddy and sitting with them at lunch and whatever might encourage them to find common ground.

[VagabondBull]

06:04 AM on 11/06/2011

How about we just outlaw the bullying behavior? Or allow the victim 2 free shots with a ball bat on the bully.

[PublicCitizen21044]

10:20 AM on 11/06/2011

LMAO! But in all seriousness the children are the future adult class of leaders,business people,educator,etc and if they do not learn how to resolve their differences with each other peacefully/amicably I am afraid we will have another generation of warring and fighting instead of talking and negotiating and therefore the human species will end up a defunct species.

[jmactacular]

03:18 PM on 11/05/2011

Why is it every single time there is a problem, legislators only response is a bill banning something. It astonishes me how little critical and creative thinking policy makers apply to issues we send them there to solve.

Senator Whitmer, I have news for you. The only people who can actually protect kids from bullying, are the other students and teachers who are there in that moment when it occurs.

And it is shameful to even attempt to spell out exceptions of who should be protected based on sexuality. I had many bullies when I was in school. I was physically assaulted. Was I less deserving of protection because I am straight? One of my many bullies was even gay. Hate is hate. The reasons why DO NOT MATTER. Hate crimes legislation is bad law, a crime is a crime. All kids have equal value. ALL kids must be protected equally.

[VagabondBull]

06:14 AM on 11/06/2011

The act of bullying should be outlawed period. When I was in school a couple times per school year I'd have to stand up to one of my bullies and knock them down. It would tone down the bullying for a month until they forgot about their beat down and start all over again. However in that day and age, unless you got caught by a teacher, you didn't really have to worry too much about repercussions. These days they call the police on you, you risk going to court, etc. It seems that the bullies are allowed to do what they want but when the victim tries to fight back they are the ones who end up punished.

I used to enjoy that rare occasion of fighting back when the bully realizes that they were getting stomped by the geek/fairy/queer.