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(Des Moines, Iowa) A group of Republican lawmakers is holding up legislation that would help curb bullying and harassment in Iowa schools because the bill would include protections for gay and lesbian students.
The issue was scheduled to be debated in the Senate Education Committee on Monday, but Sen. Paul McKinley, (R-Chariton), a head of the panel, struck it from the list of measures to be considered.
Because the 50 member Senate is tied with 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats each committee has two chairs, and both must sign off on which measures will be debated.
McKinley said he's all for safe schools, but said he doesn't agree with including a list of specific groups to be protected.
Sen. Michael Connolly (D-Dubuque) the other committee chair has authored a similar measure but without McKinley's support it cannot be debated.
The head of a task force on issues affecting gays and lesbians in school said harassment is growing and many people in positions to protect youngsters from being bullied don't think they have the tools they need.
"To say that this is something a kid has to go through is just not acceptable," said Brad Clark. "A lot of teachers and some administrators don't feel they have the backing to control the problem."
The stonewalling has also angered some Republicans.
"I happen to be a lifelong, rabid Republican who has a gay daughter," said Ted Coppock, a Des Moines businessman.
"When she went to school at Saydel High School she was faced with these issues. There were many times when she came home from school crying because she had been harassed or bullied."
©365Gay.com 2005
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