On May 24, 2007, North Carolina's state House of Representatives voted 73 to 46 in favor of the School Violence Prevention Act, which would require public schools to adopt policies prohibiting bullying or harassing behavior, including bullying and harassment motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. The measure now moves to the North Carolina Senate. According to Equality North Carolina, a statewide advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians, the House vote marks the first time in state history that a major pro-GLBT equality bill has passed either the House or the Senate.
"The Human Rights Campaign applauds the North Carolina House of Representatives for taking this important action to advance fairness and equality," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "We also congratulate Equality North Carolina for its hard work in fighting for passage of this legislation. We hope to see this bill pass the Senate and go to the governor's desk."
"The passage of the School Violence Prevention Act in the North Carolina House is an important step toward ensuring that all students have a safe place to learn, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Equality North Carolina and our allies will be working hard to move the bill through the Senate in the coming weeks," said Equality North Carolina Executive Director Ian Palmquist.
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