NC Anti-Bullying Law

There is currently a bill in the House of NC titled "the School Violence Prevention Act." (House Bill 1366). It's currently up for one last vote in the House tomorrow...

Sadly (well, considering the state itself...), right after this bill was presented, Rep. Stam proposed an amendment to "strip out the protected categories," including gender identity and sexual orientation, from the bill. The first vote (regarding the amendment) resulted in a 58-58 tie.

After even more debate, the amendment was thankfully abandoned and the bill passed 72-45.

How is this bill especially important for this state? This is the first time in state history that a major piece of pro-equality legislation has passed a vote in either chamber.

Hopefully this bill will pass. And hopefully the anti-gay marriage amendment to the state's constitution (because apparently two laws just aren't enough) fails.