One of the biggest and most recent problems in schools today is the issue with LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered) bullying and the laws that are to be implemented to protect these students from being socially attacked by their peers. Now, laws are being passed and making their ways around the US.

Many LGBT supporting organizations such as GLSEN (Gay and Lesbian Education Network) and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) are submitting bills to congress that approach these conflicts.

These laws state that bias-based bullying that is based simply on a student’s sexual orientation is simply not going to be tolerated.

Every time you turn on the TV or look at news feeds, there is something new about a student committing suicide because they felt personally attacked and picked on by other students.

I have many mixed feeling about this. Overall, I believe the implementation of this law is a good thing.  However, when it boils down to it, the mere fact that a law like this is necessary is sad.

My first thought on this subject is why this just suddenly became a problem when it’s reported that more (specifically) LGBT students are committing suicide due to bullying?  For years, this has been a problem across the diverse spectrum of students and no big moves were made about it.

On a side note, this is not me hating on people with a different sexual orientation; this is me hating on people who aren’t willing to distinguish that this isn’t an issue limited to a specific group of people, but an issue that has a long history. Laws to protects those individuals should have been established early on and should cater to the needs of every student, without even making the sexual preference a distinguishing factor.

The teachers who failed to report incidents or to protect students failed those students who were bullied. One of the main jobs that a teacher should uphold is to make the school a safe environment.  No high school teacher is totally oblivious to who is whom or is blind to what is going on around campus. When a teacher knows when some form of bullying is occurring, they should have zero tolerance for it and they step in; not turn their head and pretend it’s not happening.

Teachers should step in, they should be positively involved in daily school life, and they should attempt to make a difference in a student’s life.

For the students, it’s time to grow up and not worry about others.  The root causes of these problems are ourselves. To make it stop, we all just have to take the initiative to make a difference in someone’s life for the better as well.

Overall, the implementation of this law is a good thing because it is necessary to protect the unprotected.  However, the need for such law is sad. And we all need to find ways to positively impact those around us.