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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DES MOINES — The Iowa House on Thursday passed an anti-bullying bill that provides specific protections for gay and lesbian students. Rep. Mary Mascher, a teacher, said lawmakers needed to take the lead in protecting students from bullying. ‘‘We are the ones that set the agenda,’’ said Mascher, D-Iowa City. ‘‘The laws will always change before the culture will change.’’ Opponents, including Rep. Cecil Dolecheck, R-Mount Ayr, had argued that the legislation was less about protecting students than it was about foisting cultural views on schools. ‘‘It has everything to do with a culture of acceptance,’’ he told the House. ‘‘Not bullying.’’ The bill passed 55-42, with five members absent. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Chet Culver, who earlier Thursday said he looked forward to signing it into law. Culver spoke about the measure Thursday morning during a one-day conference at Drake University for educators and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth. At the conference, sponsored by the governor’s office, Culver told about 500 people that their efforts to quell discrimination have ‘‘almost paid off.’’ The measure, approved by the House and Senate, bans harassment of students based on a number of factors, including sexual orientation, gender, age and race. According to a 2005 survey by the statewide non-profit group Iowa Pride Network, 83 percent of Iowa students who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. Stephanie Mondon, a 16-year-old student from Des Moines who attended the conference, said she was harassed last year for being a lesbian. She said the proposed bill is a start in making students feel accepted. ‘‘I see things happen right in front of teachers and they don’t do anything,’’ said Mondon. Despite the new anti-bullying measure, Culver said it’s up to local school districts to apply the policy. Culver also said he hopes to sign a bill this year that adds sexual orientation to the state’s civil code protection. Cheree Morey, 51, a North Iowa Area Community College student from Peosta, attended Culver’s speech and said explicit wording in laws are necessary to curtail prejudice. ‘‘Everybody should be accepted for who they are — that’s what I want to change,’’ she said. |