From the states: Montana, Nevada, Arkansas, Oklahoma

By John Mack Freeman

In Montana, Governor Bullock signed an anti-bullying law into effect. The measure had taken over ten years to become a law, making Montana the last state in the union to have a statewide anti-bullying law on the books. Via the Billings Gazette:

The new law defines bullying as any repeated harassment, hazing or threatening in person, or in writing including electronic communication. As proposed, it would have directed public school districts to adopt certain policies addressing the issue of bullying. The final version simply prohibits students and teachers from bullying any student in a public K-12 school. It does not explicitly refer to cyberbullying, but the law would forbid it under the general bullying ban.

Parents and local authorities can also go after bullies, schools or education officials who break the law.

The Nevada State Assembly rejected a controversial anti-trans bathroom bill this week. Via the Las Vegas Sun:

Assembly members voted against AB375 on a mainly party-line, 22-20 vote on Tuesday night. Five Assembly Republicans and all Democrats voted against the measure.

The measure would require students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that corresponded to their biological sex, as well as require schools to provide separate facilities for transgender and intersex students.

The bill drew criticism from advocates who say it targets young transgender students and would open the door to lawsuits and possible discrimination. Democrats spoke out strongly against the bill before the vote, saying that it would lead to more bullying of transgender students, who face high rates of suicide.

Little Rock, Arkansas approved an anti-discrimination policy that  bans discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in hiring and city services, including those offered through outside vendors. The measure was approved by a 7-2 vote. The measure was part of a city response to a statewide bill that refuses local communities the rights to add sexual orientation and gender identity to local non-discrimination laws.

Oklahoma’s legislature has overwhelmingly passed a measure that protects clergy members and others authorized to perform weddings from being required to perform them if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. It also shields churches from being required to participate in the ceremonies. The bill is headed to the governor’s desk where it is expected she will sign it.

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