Stories in both leading GLBT weeklies reveal that Healey showed initial enthusiasm for an anti-bullying initiative, even wanting to take credit for an Anti-Bullying Best Practices Guide at a splashy unveiling ceremony. Then Mitt cracked down on public health/public safety programs which gave any acknowledgement to the particular problems of harassment GLBT youth face in our schools. Thus a long-finished, outstanding crime prevention product sits gathering dust on a bureaucratic shelf, while bullying is known to be a leading contributing factor in school violence. Healey’s support disappeared. Bullying triggered the Columbine massacre, and the recent school shooting in rural Wisconsin.
The Bay Windows story in particular exposes Mitt’s reign of terror that is chilling any programs that the religious right might think promote homosexuality. Many fundementalists think bullying is a useful deterrant to kids taking up “a homosexual lifestyle”, and “toughens up” sissy boys. Here’s the link:
