Editor's Note

   Recently, the Michigan Senate—led by the majority of Republicans—passed Matt's Safe School Law, a bill that aims to ban harassment in schools and requires every district to have an anti-bullying policy. Though the bill is named after Matt Epling, a Michigan teen who killed himself after being the victim of anti-gay hazing, there has been controversy as to whether or not the legislation will prove to be effective due to loopholes pointed out by Democrat Senator Gretchen Whitmer.

   Whitmer addressed her discrepancies against the bill on the Senate floor when she pointed out how it allows for an exception to harassment for bullies who have a "sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction." Whitmer also stated that the bill "neglects to address bullying against students based on sexual orientation or gender identity," reports the Huffington Post. And, despite the bill requiring every school district to have an anti-bullying policy, there are no procedures outlined in order to address complaints against bullies.

   According to Whitmer, if the Senate had passed this bill at the time that Epling was alive, it would not have done anything to help prevent his or the several other children's deaths that occurred in the last decade, which are directly correlated to bullying. Because of the exception stated in the bill, bullying is essentially acceptable as long the parent, student or teacher can come up with a moral or religious reason to do it.

   I believe Whitmer has every reason to call Michigan's newly instated legislation as the "Republican license to bully" because it is just another way for politicians to put a Band-aid on a seriously toxic issue. All that the bill does is outline how to get away with bullying since it essentially legalizes excuses to bully kids, thus further endangering them. The fact that it names religious excuses as appropriate only makes the Michigan Senate look ridiculous. Does separation of church and state mean anything anymore in this country?

   Bullying, hazing and hate crimes are nothing new and with social networking as the main method of communication among teens, cruelty can infiltrate their lives faster than ever. After reading about this bill and about Epling, I immediately thought about Matthew Shepard, a young man who was beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming on Oct. 6, 1998. Shepard was tortured to death simply because he was gay and when he died six days later, his death emphasized the horrid atrocities that occur in this country because of sexual orientation.

   Even now, 13 years later, you would think that there would be better legislation against bullying nationwide. 13 years later, you would hope that politicians would step up to the plate and create stricter laws to prohibit hate crimes or bullying against a person's sexual identity, weight or race.

   Instead, we see celebrities like Lady Gaga, Chaz Bono and Vinny from "The Jersey Shore" use social networking sites to get the message across that bullying can be deadly—and that it has to end. "My mother and I have initiated a passion project. We call it the Born This Way Foundation," said Gaga in a statement. "Together we hope to establish a standard of bravery and kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment." Lady Gaga even met with President Obama to come up with possible anti-bullying measures, as well as publicly offering her support for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

   However, while celebrities are using their fame and fortune to help oppressed, abused and discriminated teens throughout the country, it really makes me wonder why this should still be an issue. Don't get me wrong—I am well aware that where there is progress, there is still prejudice. However, living in a world that has been through centuries of murder, war and hate, is there really no end to the subjugation and cruelty?

   Clearly, this country is in dire need of a better rule to abide by than just being told to "love thy neighbor." Until the government gets it right, we might just have to keep following singers and actors on Twitter in order to find out where progress is being made—and how we can be a part of improving our flawed society.