Culver voices support for anti-bullying law

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By Dan Gearino | Thursday, February 22, 2007 11:46 AM CST | () comments

TODAY: (Updated 11:55 a.m.) DES MOINES — Gov. Chet Culver told an audience of gay and lesbian youth Thursday that he is eager to sign a bill banning school bullying and hopes the Legislature will send him a bill adding homosexuals to the state civil rights code.

The anti-bullying bill is set to be debated in the House later today

As for the civil rights code proposal, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said the Senate will “proceed with that legislation” sometime in the next few months. The measure would add sexual orientation to the list of traits that cannot be the basis for discrimination in employment, housing and education.

“We certainly don’t believe it’s appropriate to fire people based on their real or perceived sexual orientation. We just think that’s wrong,” he said.

Sen. Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, said he will oppose the proposal.

“I don’t think Iowa’s ready for this,” he said.

Sens. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, and Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, have sponsored a bill to change the civil rights code.

Culver spoke at the Governor’s Conference on GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender) Youth, at Drake University. The conference hosted high school students from across the state.

“One other very important issue that may come up yet this legislative session is the bill that adds sexual orientation to the state civil rights code,” he said.

“I hope to have the opportunity to sign this bill into law this year,” he said, echoing comments he made last year in his campaign for governor.

He told the audience they would play a key role in the implementation of the anti-bullying bill, if it becomes law. The bill bans bullying for all students, specifically mentioning groups that have a history of being picked on, such as gay and lesbian students.

Local school boards would have the responsibility to implement the bill’s requirements.

“It’s not going to be easy to set these local policies, so we need for you to be engaged,” Culver said.

Kyle Timmerman, a high school junior from Jefferson who attended the conference, said he hopes a state anti-bullying law will send a message to school administrators to protect all students.

“I think most schools have (anti-harassment policies) already, but they don’t enforce it,” he said.

Dan Gearino can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or dan.gearino@lee.net.