Michigan anti-bullying law protects religious bullies

[Still a Democrat]

After long debates and tortuous negotiations, the state of Michigan passed anti-bullying legislation, which on the face of it, should be a good thing. Unfortunately, Michigan has managed to pass a law which, despite bearing a name designed to honor the memory of a victim of bullying, may actually provide legal cover to the worst of the bullies.

The law, Matt’s Safe School Law, named in memory of Matt Epling, who committed suicide in the wake of relentless anti-gay bullying, offers a loophole to those who want to bully gay students or anyone else they don’t like. All they need to do, according to the newly passed legislation, is claim that their bullying was based on “a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction.”

Although not mentioned specifically, all those who bully gay people might need to do to avoid prosecution under the new law is quote Leviticus 20:13 which condemns to death those who practice at least some kinds of homosexual sex. But this is not simply about gay people, lest anyone think that is not sufficiently problematic.

Alternatively, one who bullies Jews might escape accountability under “Matt’s Law” by simply invoking the words of another Matthew -- the Gospel author. He reports that Jews in the time of Jesus declared (Matt. 27:25), “His (Jesus’) blood be upon us and upon our children.” Presumably, one could claim that bullying Jews is nothing more than the bully’s attempt to live out the implications of these nearly 2,000 year old words.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/gues..._blog.html

[jaxx]

It guts the anti-bullying legislation by letting religions by. Which is why they did it.

[There Is No Spoon]

I posted the below video in the previous thread on this heinous pro-bullying law.

Gretchen Whitmer spells out the Republican License to Bully law in the stark and brutal way that Republicans give permission for kids to bully using their moronic law as a guide.

[SeattleGirl]

(11-06-2011 09:11 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote:  Gretchen Whitmer spells out the Republican License to Bully law in the stark and brutal way that Republicans give permission for kids to bully using their moronic law as a guide.

Wow, that was amazing, TINS. Ms. Whitmer is pissed and disgusted, and rightfully so.

This so-called anti-bullying law is horrible.

[KonaKane]

We need more like her. Many more.

[PoliticalTiger]

This was true in 1795 and is true in 2011, at least in Michigan: "The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called revelation, or revealed religion." -Thomas Paine

[Willinois]

Wow. Everyone from the Klan to the Inquisition could fit through that loophole. How shameless.