Franken Backing Anti-Bullying Bill Following Teen Suicides

Updated: 01/18/2011 4:15 PM KSAX.com | 

MILTONA, Minn. - Sen. Al Franken discussed new legislation that would give gay students more rights in the classroom following the death of an Alexandria Jefferson High School student.

Around 10:00 p.m. Saturday the Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to an emergency call at the Lundsten's residence in Miltona.

When officers arrived, they discovered 18-year-old Lance Lundsten needing emergency medical care. Lundsten was transported to the Douglas County Hospital where he later died.

The Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that the cause of Lundsten's death was yet to be determined.  Authorities had been working with the Douglas County Medical Examiner's Office to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.  The cause and manner of death will be determined by the medical examiner after the autopsy process and laboratory testing is complete.

According to his Facebook page, Lundsten was openly gay. On aFacebook memorial page in Lundsten's honor, friends said  that Lundsten had been bullied at school for his sexual orientation. Some students who knew Lundsten believed the bullying may have led to his death.

U.S. Senator Al Franken sent his condolences Monday and said he hopes a new bill could change how lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) students are treated.

"My heart goes out to Lance's family, and friends and loved ones. It's a tragic event, not only for them, but for the school, and the Alexandria community and really for all of us," Franken said.

"LGBT kids really do need (more) protection," Franken said. "They're two or three times more likely than straight kids to get bullied. Nine in ten LGBT students said they've been bullied or harassed and almost two-thirds say they don't feel safe in school."

Franken posted a video on youtube in support of LGBT youth on Nov. 9.

"It's beyond heartbreaking that so many students have taken their own lives after being bullied for being gay or perceived as gay. To any young people out there who are watching this: You may feel alone and that there's nothing you can do. But you're not alone," Franken said in the video.

The Student Non-Discrimination Act (SDNA) would go into federal law forbidding schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring harassing behavior.

Franken said he's gaining support but would most likely be months before it could be passed into law.

Earlier this month a New Jersey law was signed and the Minneapolis school board changed its policies, to help protect LGBT students.

There is no mention of sexual orientation listed in the Jefferson High School's Student/Parent Handbook's harassment policies. The policies prohibit verbal assaults toward a staff member or student which degrades people because of their "race, sex, religion, ethnic background, physical or mental handicaps," along with harassment and violence in regards to sex, race or religion.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day remembered for the advancements made in civil rights for minorities, Franken said there are still barriers that need to be broken down.

"(On) Martin Luther King Day ... we want to celebrate the American values that have broken down barriers that prevent all citizens from having ... the same opportunities to succeed ... This is another barrier that still needs to be broken. We need to have more acceptance of LGBT students." "We need to create in our schools, an atmosphere where bullying isn't really accepted in anyone."

Lundsten's funeral is set for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.

Written for the web by Joe Nelson.