Michigan Anti-Bullying Bill Criticized Over Religious Exemption

Michigan is one of three states without an anti-bullying law. Currently, Matt's Safe School Law, SB 45, is working its way through the state's legislature. ABC News reports that the state Senate passed the bill last Wednesday, but added a controversial exemption that provides the bill "does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held belief or moral conviction." Columnist Dan Savage strongly criticized the exemption, saying:

It really is a God-hates-fags-special-rights-for-Christians-to-abuse-LBGT-kids-in-the-school law. It's a law that specifically empowers students, teachers, administrators [and] principals to bully LGBT kids if they can point to a moral justification."

Bill sponsor Rick Jones says this language was not intended to allow a child to be confronted or abused, but was merely designed to protect the child who says in class that his religion does not believe in same-sex marriage.  Jones says he is open to the language being changed, so long as students' 1st Amendment rights are protected.


UPDATE: The Michigan House of Representatives on Nov. 10 passed HB 4163, a version of the anti-bullying law that does not contain the language exempting statements motivated by religious or moral beliefs. (Huffington Post.)