In Michigan, it may be ok to bully if its for "moral" reasons

[tko_ak]

There has been a movement in Michigan to codify anti-bullying measures at the state level, but Republican legislators who control the state senate have gutted the proposed legislation but putting loopholes in it

Comments

[particle_mann]

Eh. This is the problem with hate speech laws, really-who decides what the line is? And how much liberty do we give up in the meantime when we try and move the line? The fact is many people believe, as a sincerely held belief, often for religious reasons, that being LGBTQanyotherlettersImissed is wrong. As long as their expression of that belief remains purely in the arena of speech, we have two choices to deal with them...we can either pass another law, or we can try and change their minds. The second tends to be a lot more effective, and a lot less infringing on our own rights. And if their beliefs ever do cross the level into violence/threats of violence, well, that's always been against the rules/illegal.

And no, I didn't live with bullying because I was bi (I didn't really figure it out until I was almost done with high school, and it was never really an issue), but I did get the crap knocked out of me on a semi-regular basis for my first 10 years of public school for other reasons, so I kind of know that of which I speak.

[keito_f]

That seems to me to be a bit of a straw man.

You can express a sincerely held religious belief without engaging in bullying. The anti-bullying laws are not aimed at preventing someone from stating: "I believe sexual acts between people of the same sex is morally wrong," rather it is dealing with things like someone yelling "hey faggot" at a student or "suck my cock gay boy." To argue that the latter are sincere expressions of religious belief that should be protected is ridiculous I think.

Furthermore, most of the bullying in these situations revolves around targeting individuals for being attracted to member of the same sex, i.e., for not being straight. Every Christian church I have looked claims that being gay or lesbian or bisexual is not morally wrong. Many will argue that engaging in homosexual acts is morally wrong, but that is a different issue and not what is meant when someone yells "faggot." I do not know what the stance is with regard to other religions.

[reyl]

Just because you have a religious belief doesn't mean it is always appropriate to spout it. You know, like in schools and around kids that aren't yours. Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to be an inconsiderate douche.

On a federal level...

[vigelunt]

So does this mean 9/11 is technically justified under this bill?