State Legislation Would Address LGBT Bullying

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State Representative Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, is supporting House Bill 156, which provides for anti-bullying programs in Pennsylvania schools that would specifically protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students.  

The prime sponsor of the bill is Republican Dan Truitt from Chester County, Which Frankel said is a sign that the issue is “crossing some traditional boundaries that haven’t been bridged before” and an instance of bipartisanship that bodes well for passage.

Frankel said the legislation will help educate students and teachers.  "Now we have a situation where particularly children who are LGBT, who may be questioning their gender identity, are specific targets and the most likely targets of emotional and physical abuse in a school setting by both students and, occasionally, by faculty."

Frankel said face-to-face bullying is not the only concern, so the bill also addresses cyber bullying as well.