The Birmingham, Ala., board of education made a bold statement on Tuesday by passing an antibullying policy that protects not only LGBT kids from harassment and bullying, but LGBT teachers as well.

Birmingham board member Howard Bayless (pictured) oversaw the monumental decision. He told GayPolitics.com, "This process began over a year ago. Being the first openly gay man elected in the state and the first openly gay school board member anywhere in Alabama, I knew I wanted our system to be more inclusive and welcoming to ALL of our students, but I also knew this would have to be a process that involved my eight fellow board members."

Bayless says he spoke to all the board members and explained how damaging antigay bullying is and how it personally affected him when he was a student in Birmingham's schools.