Proposed North
Carolina legislation that would protect schoolchildren
from antigay bullying has died for this year, The
[Raleigh] News & Observer reported Friday.
"The
failure of this bill to pass...sends a bad
message," state senator Doug Berger told the
Observer. The senate sent the bill back to
committee Thursday, and it will not come to a vote
during this legislative session, Berger said.
The controversy
that prevented the bill from passing surrounded the
addition of "sexual orientation" as a reason
that a student may face discrimination or bullying,
the Observer reported.
Right-wing groups
including the Christian Action League and the North
Carolina Family Policy Council objected to the added term,
saying LGBT activists would use the law as leverage to
pass other legislation. (The Advocate)