Tyler Clementi anti-harassment bill joins other Anti-bullying bills

Details: Category: News; Published on Thursday, 17 March 2011 19:30; Written by L. Tacita; Hits: 666

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act was introduced this Monday, March 14. Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Rush Holt, both democrats from New Jersey introduced the bill which would address gay bullying on campuses and universities, according to the HRC website.

Tyler Clementi was a Rutgers university student who committed suicide after a roommate released a sex tape he had secretly recorded, according to ABC News. Clementi's last post on his Facebook wall said, “Jumping off GW Bridge, sorry”.

The recent bill joins the Safe Schools Improvement Act and Student Non-Discrimination Act in a government attempt to address bullying. The bills before congress do not address a person's orientation specifically. The Tyler Clementi act requires colleges to receive funding to have clearly stated policies preventing harassment based on a student's race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion, according to Northjersey.com

While the Tyler Clementi bill does not address Asexuality specifically, it will address, albeit indirectly the issue of Asexual students who undergo bullying simply because of perceived gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered status. A few states have placed policies that specifically gives protections to Asexuals, but the White House's anti-bullying site did not address Asexuals specifically. Even LGBT groups allied with Asexuals do not always address the issue. Asexual bloggers have addressed the issue of a need for greater inclusion of Asexuals in LGBT bullying discussions.