Thank you for such an insightful review of "Bully". Many things you mentioned, ie: wanting to "punch" the clueless school administrator; if someone was behaving on a Sacramento bus like that, the bus driver would alert the cops and they would be waiting for the jerk at the next stop - actually I would go further, if an adult were to do any of what we witnessed in the film to a child, they would be charged with child abuse and endangerment, but since it's peer abuse, oh well "boys will be boys, or kids will be kids"! That kind of (let's call it what it really is) peer abuse is unacceptable at any age. I don't think though that we needed to be inundated with statistical facts like "13 million kids will be bullied in the U.S. this year", I think it was more important that the filmmaker did his best to place the viewer (us) in the shoes of Alex, Kelbe, and feel the heartbreak and regret of the parents of kids who committed "bullycide" . If the viewer was truly impacted by what they saw they would research further on their own. If a parent see's this they might go to their school and ask for their policy when a child who is being abused by a classmate or when a concerned student who witnesses an act of abuse. If that school does not have one work with the administration or school board and get one written up. Ask your school if and how they are adhering to "Seth's Law"? Talk to your kids and his/her friends. Are they being bullied? Are they being bullies themselves??? What should they do if they witness bullying at their school? What do they do if they hear a classmate talk about suicide? Did you know that even a child has the legal right to bring charges against another child if their calls for help goes unheeded? They should know that fact as they know how to dial 911! Step 1 = see the movie "Bully" Step 2 = research the problem going on in your school (and it is going on right here in Sacramento - it's not just a Southern problem!) Step 3 = get involved no matter if you have children or not! DO SOMETHING! Ken Pierce - EqualityAction NOW.org ALSO: B.R.A.V.E. Society (Bullies Really Are Violating Everyone) http://www.bravesociety.org/

Understood Sarah - and it is difficult because my position in Equality Action NOW as both President of the Board and Communications Director. When I put this out in a press release to the media it does not have a by-line but in this case when you publish to Sac Press, the by-line is automatic. So how does one wear both hats in the same piece???

Wow, Sarah, I wish I had you in our organization. Feisty! Well, call it a press release or an article it was all 100% original and written, researched, spoke to everyone I received a quote from, and called Rev Whitmore to tell her what we were doing and more info. I was able to send it out and go live here within an hour of getting word of hearing about the issue at hand. Pretty good right? Thirdly, for sure any organization has to right to fund or not fund any organization they like for any reason, good or bad. Myself and my organization has the right, since we (LGBT people) were the focus of the reason why the Church decided to pull their funding, do have a say in this and we exercised our our freedom of speech (and press). As a result, of this article/press release we had a nice crowd at the Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center and it was well covered by Fox News, News 13, and Outword magazine. To be perfectly honest the real reason to call attending to this issue in this way was to drum up interest in our own community to try and replace the $10,000 lost by the pull-out of the Church. I think we are going to accomplish just that in the coming weeks. After the press conference other LGBT individuals and organizations jumped on the band-wagon and will be doing their own fund-raising for the homeless and poor....because we get it......it isn't about politics or what anyone believes, it's about helping our brother's and sisters and their families. Right??? Look for a follow-up to this piece soon!

Whatever the motive of Mayor Johnson or true feelings about same-sex-marriage, he did agree to sign onto the statement personally. I think he just needed a civic and constitutional lesson as well as a reminder that when he became Mayor he represents ALL citizens, not just those who are inclined to vote for him in the next election. He could have ignored this and it could have gone away eventually but he did not. This symbolic action on his part most likely will not gain him extra votes from those who readily support marriage equality (and in fact may lose him a few from the religious right) but in the end, Mayor Johnson did the right thing and I (symbolically) applaud him for that gesture.

There are many kids who happen to be LGBT out there on our streets because they were kicked out of their homes for being gay or lesbian. I wounder if one of their stories are included in this film?

King was not a fighter otherwise he may have stood up for himself by beating the crap out of his long-time tormentor and what about the adults and school administrators who stood by and let this happen? Before this bully turned up the heat King never acted the way he did in school, it was the only way he could defend himself by trying to embarrass his killer into stopping his harassment. When a teacher finally stepped up and warned King to to tone it down fearing something bad would happen the next day King did not wear make-up or high-heals, he headed the warning as he was asked but the "white-supremacist" murderer decided to end King's life anyway. King's actions was his only way to defend himself in his mind since no adult stepped in to intervene until it was too late.

If you read carefully this program would like to protect all children from harassment and bullying no matter gay or straight. If a gay child harassed another child I would hope that the same protections be given to the other child. This program is about tolerance. It isn't about acceptance that a person is handicapped, or has a learning disability, or acts differently, or expresses themselves differently gender-wise - it's about bullies keeping their thoughts and hateful remarks and actions to themselves. Of course acceptance would be nice but the true goal is the creation of safe schools that all children can have a comfortable learning environment without fear. It's about teaching respect. I am sure you would agree with that goal. I don't appreciate you confusing persons, gay or straight who have criminal intent with those who are normal kids, (LGBT or straight or handicapped or different in any way) who are just trying to get through Jr High or High School without the constant harassment and bullying and those who will tell them they are any less of a person then they are. Lastly last time I read the words, "We hold these truths to be self–evident, That all men are created equal, That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.– That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." I think that means all people, not just those you personally deem worthy of those rights. And to make sure those rights are protected the Government is charged with doing what it can to keep, for example, bullies from harming, physically or mentally, anyone from anyone else.

Equality Action NOW members include LGBT Youths who have suffered bullying in school. We also have a lesbian teacher who has authored the very first workbook about Harvey Milk and has been awarded Best Teacher of the Year in her school district. In addition we have professional members in the mental health field ie counselors and physiologist as well as two students who are going into the mental health field. We also have a transgender person who works for an organization that helps adults with developmental disabilities, both are subject to the harassment of bullies. All are experts at knowing the damage bullies can do and they all are queer. Any more questions about our "expertise"?

Please support your assumption and provide us with proof of a problem with gay kids bullying straight kids. What straight kid had committed suicide or been murdered by a rampant gay kid? Please respond.

Both

Amazing news folks! Your calls made the difference - Gov. Brown signed FAIR into law today... GREAT day!

We are showing the documentary, "The Times of Harvey Milk".

UPDATE: The VIP Reception has been canceled though the presentation, entertainment, and documentary will take place beginning at 6:30pm. Hint: if you never been inside the new Crocker go early and spend some time viewing the beautiful art. This is a family event you all will enjoy. Get your tickets early.

Thank you Brandon.

It was wonderful to meet you today Richard. I hope to follow you online all across the US.

Our Request Marraige Sacramento event was a huge success. Today I was turned down by the clerk for a marriage license and I almost cried. My church has told me I am not worthy to go to communion as an openly gay man. I left the church. Some people in my community back home in Texas would rather see me dead then alive loving another guy. Today my government told my I am less of a citizen then other citizens. Today I take my stand and continue to fight for my civil rights. Today there were many others who stood with me and the numbers are growing.

It was great to see people from all walks of life and reasons for getting their photo shot. This is exactly the event Equality Action Now, a local grassroots civil rights organization is happy to support. Thanks to our LGBT Youth Spokespersons, Joey O'Shey and John Wells for greeting participants and signing them up for information. www.EqualityActionNow.org