Bible Thumping Legislator Helps Gay Students
by Fidel Ortega
365Gay.com Newscenter in Miami

(February 20, Tallahassee, Florida) About 80 gay and lesbian students from across Florida gathered at the Capitol this week to support a measure by two Broward County legislators designed to protect them from harassment and abuse in public schools. 

There are no laws prohibiting harassment of any kind in Florida schools. The Florida Dignity for all Students Coalition  says bullying of gay and lesbian students goes unchecked and is an everyday occurrence in schools.

"How can we ask our students to go to school, get a good education and be productive when we cannot ensure that they will be safe and treated with dignity at all times?" said Rep. Ken Gottlieb, D-Miramarone one of the sponsors of the bill. 

"We must work toward a day when no child is left to fend for themselves in school and every child is made to feel human all of the time."

Florida Dignity for all Students Coalition's Chris Vasquez, says he feels the bill has a good chance of passing thanks to a right-wing, Bible thumping Republican.

Last year when Vasquez , and a handful of other gay students went to the capitol to lobby for legislation, Rep. Allen Trovillion told the group to stop sinning or face the wrath of God.

Trovillion told the students that gays did not need "special treatment" under state law. Then, he told them to change their ways, pointing out that, in the Bible, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of homosexuals.

His remarks brought rebukes from fellow lawmakers from Tallahassee to Washington.

"It's gotten a lot further this year because of what happened with Trovillion last year," said Vasquez.

But, the legislationt still may not get to the floor of the legislature.

The "Dignity for All Students Act" seeks to extend anti-discrimination laws specifically to public schools and any private schools that receive any state funding. Schools would be required to train teachers and other school personnel to recognize and deal with harassment in classrooms.

Rep. Fred Brummer who chairs the State Administration committee must sign off on the proposal before it gets to the House Floor.

Brummer said there was no way he would let it be heard in his committee.