Ellen DeGeneres on the Battle Against Bullying: Join the Live Chat
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Tonight, truth in advertising. You deserve no less from the people seeking your vote. But you may not be getting it. Plus, kids and bullying. My talk with students and a special conversation with Ellen DeGeneres, who is passionate about the problem.
Want more details on what covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
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2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
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Please allow schools to teach and encourage acceptance. Acceptance of other cultures, religions, and alternate lifestyles. We have got to find a way to coexist.
Bullying is not just a gay issue. Kids get bullied just for being different. I'm not gay, but I was bullied. Kids just naturally single out anyone they perceive as weaker.
*Tyler Clementi story
From what i see, its just a prank by two immature college students, that had no idea what the results of their actions would be.
Tyler could have been with a girl, and it would have been streamed just the same.
He commits suicide in this case?
#he has a lower tolerance level to embarrassing situations than most.
Treat gays equal, I mean, thats what we would conclude "if he was with a girl"
Glad to hear Ellen say that "these two other people thought it would be funny"...I still wonder what is happening with those "two other people" who have suddenly gone incognito, it seems. I truly hope they are feeling the depth of impact of their actions...not just how it's affecting them themselves now, but how it affected their victim.
My son (11) is a victim of bullying and the anti-bully platform of the school district is absolute useless rhetoric. My son is not gay; sexuality has nothing to do with it. Faculty and administration are pathetic. My son will be attending cyber school and the local school district will lose whatever funding they have been receiving for him. It seems to me that $$$ is all that matters to school officials anyway.
I am catholic it does not matter to me, who is gay. A humane being is a person with a heart like every one else why treat somebody because they have a different kind of sex life?
If we had more effective counselors in the schools they could help these kids but there is usually one or two for an entire school. Not nearly enough.
They could work with the bully and the victim because a bully is obviously someone who is deeply disturbed.
Yes, all students have to be comfortable enough to go to school with themselves.
Alicia,
You're right, That will be stop bully at teenagers or people. agree.
Looking forward to hearing from Chris Armstrong.
Why does he have the right to promote his social activities in the school and no others have any rights? Evangelicals don't own the school systems. Where do agnostic kids, muslims, etc. go to school in Minnisota?
Rosiland's statement about ALL children should be treated with respect & dignity couldn't be more true.
If only ALL children could be treated that way now!
kids are so emotional at the tween/teen years, you absolutely have to address bullying-period & the root is educating everyone about RESPECT, race, religion, sexual preferences. it's difficult, but as a society we will not succeed.
Bullying isn't a gay issue its an issue of Kids disrespecting others kids because they are different. You don't have to br gay to get bullied. So many other kids get bullied for other reasons.
There is so much pressure on youth.
Bullying is a problem that definitely needs to be addressed in schools. It can have lasting effects on a person.
Mr. Grayson sidestepped the questions Anderson posed or he questioned the ethics of Anderson. The questions were direct and Mr. Grayson took the defensive posture which indicates he was guilty of the statements made by Anderson. Good interview and an indications of politics today
Anderson, thank you for discussing taboo subjects like homophobia in our schools and battling the conservative ideas that seek to continue suppressing the fact that homosexuals exist and deserve the same rights as all other people do.
Thank you for being pragmatic and opening the conversation for progress towards a more humane environment for all students.
How can this man (Pritchard) be arguing with the logic Anderson is presenting here?? This issue is truly beyond a 'gay' issue...it's human rights, for children, no less...and this guy is pushing back?! People like this is where problems start... so sad.
this is not just about homosexual young people, this is bullying! and we need to focus on helping young people be comfortable of who they are and push them to love themselves.
What's wrong with schools teaching acceptance? By schools "remaining neutral" it's basically saying they are going to "do nothing." Acceptance is not the same thing as encouraging students to be either homo or heterosexual. Everyone needs to be allowed to understand for themselves who they are. No one is talking about schools promoting or endorsing anything, simply teaching all kids to accept one another no matter who they are or how they identify themselves. All this labeling adds to the problem, and adds to the bullying.
Jackie,
My heart goes to you and your daughter..... I know how you feel that way, you were bullied at school. Thank you for your story.
Love it Anderson!! "There are gay kids, there will be gay kids, whether you like it or not!" Way to go!!
Bullying can be about anything, but lately these behaviors have proved fatal to some gay young people. To ignore that would be wrong. It's not a question of "promoting" anything, it's a question of how do you treat someone with respect and dignity.
Good for you Alicia, you must be so proud of your son. It's nice to hear of such stories. Thank you.
My son and daughter knew about Justin. They go to a high School near Anoka. Anoka county has a high % of suicide. I think there are several reason for teenagers taking their lives. gay is just one of the reasons. I could give you several more reasons. All need to help our teenagers feel safe in our high schools.
@ Lori, CA
I agree with you. I still remember in Junior High a boy in our class took his life because of this type of harassment. It was really hard at age 12. Years later, this same type of stuff is still happening. Will it ever end with any generation of youth?
Being a teenager is very complicated.
Exactly right, Janis Hewitt. It's not a gay agenda. Human beings of every description have bullied and been bullied for eons. Sadly.
Sorry, the prejudice starts in the home. Children are emulating parents. We have a problem in this country
@Jackie- i empathize with you and your daughter.
I too went through the horror of bullying,which at the time was looked at as a right of passage.
I have never forgotten it and it did take years to recover and regain my self-esteem.
Let's pray that AC 360's focus on this behavior will change things for the better in the future for all other children, no matter what their "difference" is.
Who wants to be a teenager again?
Hi, Anderson and Team...sad about this young boy. We need to be educated as parents. So,these kinds of things wouldn't happen. My granddaughter goes to a Catholic school it happens there too. I believe as granddaughter and parents we need to teach our kids not to bully no matter how different other kids are.
i remember when the term "gay" meant happy and carefree – when during the passage of time did the term change meaning?
rosalind from last night and tonight(author of "Queen Bees and Wannabees") said that society needs to change the usage of terminology. it seems to me that society has quite effectively changed the meaning and usage of the word "gay" – so that in itself is proof that society CAN indeed change usage and connotation and attitude
@David, Indiana,
It really was an unbelievable interview. Grayson was not even able to defend himself and instead tried to turn the tables on Anderson. I think that many saw right past him.
I don't agree that the ad made it seem like he was in the military. The voice was clearly not his and never was it mentioned that he (the Congressman)did serve.
He did not kill himself because he was gay. He killed himself because everyone else bullied him to his death. What is wrong with activism aimed at saving lives?????
Gay agenda?? This is unbelievable!
I know teenagers were bullies by other students who taunted gay teenagers, It is very worst bullies at school across the country.
So did Mr. Grayson serve in the military or not?
My 11 year old is being a voice in our community...at the age of 11 he is making a HUGE difference standing up about Bullying. Our local city and county school systems are supporting him...in fact they have made a PSA regarding this matter.
One child's voice has been huge in our community...just wish we could make it heard everywhere...this has got to stop!
Alicia
BG, KY
Wow, that guy Grayson sure is evasive. Too bad the voters in his state only have him and his opponent to choose from. Both of them sound like idiots.
It's not a gay agenda. It's human dignity. Schools need to not be politicized.
Jut to let you know it isn't only gay people who get buillied. I am 49 yrs old and was bullied throughout jr and sr high. They tortured my life. I then watched my daughter go through the same thing (she is now 25 yrs old. It has scared both of us for life.
How will we eliminate bullying in schools when our Polititions are constantly bulling each other in thier ads. The public officials and the adults need to be a better example to our kids.
Fed up with Bully's and Politions. Both Dem & Rep. I am voting for Donald Trump for Pres in 2012.
And guess what, the politicians are bullying each other on the campaign trail and in Congress. It is a national virus and a deadly contagion.
I will bet that there are very few people who have not been bullied at some point in their life.
OMG, Anderson you so nailed the Pep. from Florida, Mr. Grayson.
Can you say discredited!!!
And the video to back it up. Way to bait and and nail him with the video!!
Thank you Anderson.
Last night it was reported that some conservatives feel that the focus on bully behavior somehow promotes a "gay agenda".
I am guessing that their point is that the focus on gays is to get all of us to accept behavior that they find reprehensable.
Looking forward to Ellen.
Hi Anderson...great job (as always) with Grayson. It's SO refreshing to watch a news program where the Dems are grilled as hard as the Republicans...no more, no less. You're the best anchor on the air today..thank you!