A bill passed in the Michigan Republican-led Senate on November 2 that has a clause that allows bullying if religion is used as a defense: if “a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction” justifies their harassment.
The bill passed the Republican-led Senate along party lines. Democrats claim the bill doesn’t go far enough to protect kids from bullies.
"Not only does this not protect kids who are bullied, it further endangers them by legitimizing excuses for tormenting a student,” said state senate minority leader Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer said the bill didn’t commemorate Epling, calling it a “[sick] irony.”
Understanding the difference between freedom of expression and infringing on the welfare of others appears to be the point of contention. Critics say it’s a line that will be hard to define.
“Would it be OK if someone harassed or even beat up your child, or any child, because the bully is morally opposed to eating meat? Being fat?” wrote Rob Zimmer, Portage, Mich. resident, to mlive.com. “I mean, because the Bible says that your body is a temple so it's OK for a ‘Christian’ bully to beat you up for being out of shape, right?”
Republicans say the bill is a necessary step to stop bullying in schools. Indeed Michigan is one of several remaining states that haven’t enacted anti-bullying legislation.
But Democrats have some suggestions.
In addition to removing the clause, critics want to enumerate the common reasons why students are bullied. Groups, like social rights organization Equality Michigan, are also calling for tighter reporting of bullying events.
Those against the bill say it fails to protect the unprotected, and thus the morality and wisdom of the bill is questionable at best. They say we should protect the freedom of religious and moral expression but not at the peril of others.
The bill will now go to the Michigan House of Representatives, which is also Republican-led.
Matt Epling's father explains the bill. He says we need to listen to our students, what they need from us. This legislation is not it…there are to be no protected classes in anti-bullying legislation." Mr. Epling also wants an apology from those who put the clause in the bill.
Our friends overseas had this to say about the issue at the blog Meercat9.com:
I'm honestly getting sick of writing about people in America doing stupid things, but this has got to be one of the worst. Michigan's Republican Party (Bush, not Obama) have modified anti-bullying bill SB137 (also known as "Matt's Safe School Law") to include a clause that allows bullying based on "moral convictions". It (quote) "does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil's parent or guardian."
This may as well serve as the poster child for religious zealots holding back human rights and morality in general.
This legislation apparently means that as a student, or even teacher, canteen lady, or parent – you would be legally allowed to preach about how immoral, unnatural and wrong it is to be homosexual – to the affected students directly. If a student walked up to the canteen looking particularly flamboyant, the canteen lady would be allowed to tell him how sinful he is without a single repercussion – because it's her freedom of speech to bully a gay student into suicide as long as she's only pointing out her opinions. The only requirement is that she's sincere in that belief. If she's joking, then she'd be in all sorts of trouble.
But the problem isn't just the increased acceptance of LGBTI bullying. Anybody who is outside the scope of mainstream religious ideology is also a legitimate target under state-endorsed bullying. Atheist? You better not let anybody find out you're a Godless, sinful, immoral, sodomite. Outspoken woman? Men are superior by default, shut up. Rape victim who wasn't loud enough? It's your fault and you should die. Science class? I'm not letting that sinful heathen tell me the Earth is older than 6000 years.
I sincerely hold the belief that any Christian in favour of this legislation should be publicly humiliated and bullied for their filth on grounds of my moral conviction. I'll be sure to tell them repeatedly to their faces if I ever decide to travel there.