New Jersey has passed anti-bullying legislation. The idea, said a sponsor, is to make it clear it is not “optional” to respond to harassment of students. It is a response to a college student’s suicide after other students distributed a video of him having sex.

You have to wonder how such legislation would fare in Arkansas. The “religious” lobbyists here have opposed a variety of civil rights measures over the years for fear that they might make it a criminal or civil offense to harm or discriminate against gay people. Discrimination of this sort deserves protection, they believe. Would they make the same “slippery slope” argument — or worse the “special rights” argument about protection that might be needed on account of sexual orientation? And there’s that other favorite argument, that offering protection to gay people could be viewed as a violation of religious beliefs. The Family Council knows no depths on this subject.

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