Gay rights advocates on Tuesday protested the exclusion of gay and lesbian relationships from a South Carolina bill meant to curb teen dating violence.
-- From "Gay rights advocates protest SC date violence bill" by Seanna Adcox, Associated Press Writer 5/19/09
Limiting dating violence prevention to students in hetereosexual relationships further discriminates against students who are already vulnerable to bullying, depression and self-doubt, the advocates said. They urged senators to remove the reference.
The measure requires school districts to create dating violence prevention policies for sixth- through 12th-graders and print the policies in school handbooks or Web sites by the summer of 2010. South Carolina consistently reports high rates of domestic violence incidents.
Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, said he pushed for the change to "preserve traditional values in South Carolina's public schools," and not allow for teaching about same-sex relationships.
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