FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 11, 2011

CA Governor Signs Seth’s Law Providing Schools with Tools to Address Bullying

Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq.

(San Francisco, CA, October 11, 2011)—On October 9, 2011, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Seth’s Law (AB 9), providing California schools with tools to address the pervasive problem of school bullying and to create environments where all students can be safe.

Seth’s Law—named after 13-year-old Seth Walsh, who was the target of anti-gay bullying and died by suicide—was authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) and co-sponsored by a coalition of organizations working to advance LGBT equality, including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Equality California, the ACLU of California, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and The Trevor Project.

Statement by NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq.:

"Seth’s Law is an important step forward in ensuring school leaders have the knowledge and tools they need to protect children from bullying and to create safe environments where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We applaud everyone involved with Seth’s Law for working to make schools safe for all children."

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
www.nclrights.org.

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