North Carolina House Passes School Violence Prevention Act
June 24, 2009
Yesterday, the North Carolina House passed the School Violence Prevention Act (SVPA). Congratulations to Equality North Carolina and our friends and allies in the North Carolina legislature, particularly Senator Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover) and Representative Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland). The bill - passed by a narrow 58-57 vote - requires school districts to implement anti-bullying policies by the end of 2009. The act would require schools to adopt anti-bullying policies that specifically prohibit bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other enumerated categories. The Senate has already voted to pass the bill and it is expected to reach the desk of Governor Bev Perdue in the near future. Our friends at Equality North Carolina are hopeful that Governor Perdue will side with protecting all North Carolina students and will sign the bill into law. If the Act is signed into law, North Carolina will become the first state south of Maryland, and just the tenth in all (plus D.C.) with a law containing enumerated categories specifically prohibiting bullying, harassment, or discrimination against students based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This is a landmark achievement, and we salute Equality North Carolina for leading this successful effort. HRC rallied our members and supporters across North Carolina by encouraging them to contact their state legislators in support of this critically important bill. Read the full text of the bill.
