Chillicothe Teen Beaten at School for Being Gay, Watch Video, Take Action Now!

Chillicothe Teen Beaten for Being Gay Take Action Now! This week, a 15-year-old teenager was severely beaten in his high school class room for being gay. The attack occurred at Union-Scioto High School in Chillicothe, Ohio, and was caught on camera as fellow class members watched one teen wait for the victim to enter the room, push him to the ground and continually punch him in the face. Two days prior to the attack, the perpetrator harassed the victim via Facebook regarding his sexual orientation. The victim has suffered a possible concussion and dental damage. The attacker was suspended from school for just three days. Union-Scioto has no policy in place that specifically protects students from being bullied or attacked based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Union-Scioto Local School District does have a policy that prohibits harassment based on sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, among others, but it does not specifically protect against harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Ohio House Bill 208 would add sexual orientation, gender identity, and other enumerated protections to Ohio’s anti-bullying law without changing the general prohibition against any bullying or harassment.  Research demonstrates that students feel safer and actually are safer in schools that have enumerated anti-bullying policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity. Proponents of the bill are seeking testimony in the House Education Committee, but the bill has not been a priority of the committee.   Email and call members of the House Education Committee and tell them we need to protect our students today! AND Sign the Safe Schools Petition here Gerald L. Stebelton, Representative (R - Chair) Phone: (614) 466-8100 district05@ohr.state.oh.us Michael Henne, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 644-8051 district36@ohr.state.oh.us Craig Newbold, Representative (R - Vice-Chair) Phone: (614) 466-8022 craig.newbold@ohr.state.oh.us Clayton R. Luckie, Representative (D - Ranking Minority Member) Phone: (614) 466-1607 district39@ohr.state.oh.us Andy Thompson, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 644-8728 district93@ohr.state.oh.us Marlene Anielski, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 644-6041 district17@ohr.state.oh.us Nan A. Baker, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 466-0961 district16@ohr.state.oh.us Ted Celeste, Representative (D) Phone: (614) 644-6005 district24@ohr.state.oh.us Andrew Brenner, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 644-6711 district02@ohr.state.oh.us Jim Butler, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 644-6008 district37@ohr.state.oh.us Timothy Derickson, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 644-5094 district53@ohr.state.oh.us Ronald V. Gerberry, Representative (D) Phone: (614) 466-6107 district59@ohr.state.oh.us Bill Hayes, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 466-2500 district91@ohr.state.oh.us Bill Patmon, Representative (D) Phone: (614) 466-7954 district10@ohr.state.oh.us Matt Huffman, Majority Floor Leader (R) Phone: (614) 466-9624 district04@ohr.state.oh.us Casey Kozlowski, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 466-1405 district99@ohr.state.oh.us Ron Maag, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 644-6023 district35@ohr.state.oh.us Kristina Roegner, Representative (R) Phone: (614) 466-1177 district42@ohr.state.oh.us

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