bullying

The Student Non-Discrimination Act has been introduced by Senator Al Franken and 22 co-sponsors. The SNDA would prohibit discrimination in schools on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. It's noted as an important step toward ensuring that all students are valued and respected and can learn in an environment free from harassment and discrimination.

Brendan Burke was 21-years old when he was killed in a car crash last February - three months after he came out to his father. Because Brendan's father - Brian Burke - is general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the outing happened publicly. The father-son pair made headlines when it was revealed that Brendan was gay.

To help honor the one year anniversary of 11-year old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover's suicide, GLSEN encourages everyone to contact members of Congress and urge them to support the Safe Schools Improvement Act. It's legislation that will require schools receiving federal funding to enact policies to prohibit bullying and harassment; and provide them with resources to prevent and respond to incidents when they occur.

ABC News reports national studies show that 27 percent of kids in grades 6 through 12 say they have been bullied in the last 30 days. And 8 percent of American 8th graders reporting missing one day of school per month because of bullying.

CNN.com profiles a family, from Dunaire, Georgia, who has suffered from school bullies. Eleven-year-old Jaheem Herrera hung himself, after he was perpetually called "gay" at school.

Jaheem's mom told CNN: "He used to say Mom they keep telling me this ... this gay word, this gay, gay, gay. I'm tired of hearing it, they're telling me the same thing over and over."

But while she says her son complained about the bullying, she had no idea how bad it had gotten.

According to the Family Equality Council, 93% of Minnesota school districts do not protect against bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and association with people who are targeted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

One of the nation's strongest local GLBT family organizations - Rainbow Families - is crafting the Safe Schools for All Bill in cooperation with OutFront, Minnesota’s biggest LGBT lobbying group, and state Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL- Minneapolis.