Teachers say gay teens need to be protected. New Jersey examines current legislation regarding harassment in it’s high schools.

In a victory for Garden State Equality and the Anti-Defamation League, progress in the form of legislation is being considered to help curb high school bullying in the state.

Morris County’s Daily Record found that anti-gay language “was rampant in local schools, with some students and teachers saying not enough was done to stop it”.

The law requires the formation of a 14-member group that would include state officials, a teacher, an administrator, a representative of the Anti-Defamation League, and members of the public with expertise on bullying.

The organization will study the implementation and effectiveness of current school bullying laws – and the legal remedies for students who are victims of bullying.

The bill also requires school districts to post their present anti-bullying policies on the Web – something that some local school districts said they already do.

Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, said: “We view this as a milestone, the first step in a process that will last over the next year”.

On a related note, current and – former – outsiders should visit a web site designed for support in dealing with bullying. Raven Days offers thousands of links about “safer schools”.