One state representative looking to stop bullying and discrimination is receiving a different type of discrimination in the Missouri House.

Rep. Sara Lampe (D-Springfield) said HB 1082, which she sponsors, will not make it to the floor for several reasons, one being that it has language dealing with sexual orientation.

“Everybody is scared to death of that phrase even though children are bullied on a daily basis in our schools based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation,” Lampe said. “It doesn’t take much research to go back to the Columbine issue and know that the reactions of these young men, like many of the shooting cases, is because the kids were bullied.”

Though the Columbine incident may not have involved sexual orientation specifically, it is just one of the many terms the bill includes.

Other terms included are perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, intellectual ability, physical appearance, or a mental, physical or sensory disability.

“This is something we have to talk about,” Lampe said. “And we have to be specific about it.”

Last year, Lampe introduced a bill that made the language of the statute as specific as the sexual harassment policy.

But it was all taken out on the floor after an argument was made that there didn’t need to be a specific list.

“This is absolutely absurd,” Lampe said. “I have 31 years experience in classrooms and as a principal of a school in Springfield. So I know if you don’t have any guidelines to say what bullying is then you don’t do anything about it. You don’t police it, you don’t say it’s unacceptable and you don’t teach the kids it’s unacceptable. So my goal is to help schools by creating language and statutes that they can fall back on.

“Being bullied isn’t a part of growing up. It’s inappropriate behavior. Bullies don’t go away. They just grow up and become adult bullies. They bully their employees. They bully fellow employees. And may even be elected. You just never know. I’ve seen bullying tactics on the (house) floor as well.”

Lampe said the treatment of her bill was a good example of that.

“The present legislature in the House is not even willing to talk about this issue,” Lampe said. “Right now the bill is nowhere because I’m in the minority. And it will not be assigned to a committee because it’s not a priority of the chair.”

Which is why more than 100 activists showed up at the Capitol on March 28 to lobby for several bills having to do with sexual orientation.

Don Dressel, field director/organizer of PROMO (Personal Rights of Missourians) said HB 1082 was just one of four different bills his group was lobbying for.

The others included SB 539, the Senate’s version of HB 1082 and the Missouri non-discrimination act (MONA) bills SB 266 and HB 819, which Lampe also co-sponsors.

MONA would add language to Missouri’s human rights statute that would deal with sexual orientation.

“It shocks most people to realize that it’s legal in the state of Missouri to be fired from your job because you are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender or just perceived to be,” Dressel said.

Currently, St. Louis, Kansas City and University City all have ordinances dealing with this kind of discrimination, but Dressel believes it should be statewide.

However, HB 819 may not ever come to vote to make that happen because it still isn’t assigned to committee.

But Lampe said just because it may not make it anywhere this year doesn’t mean she will give up on the issue.

“I’ll present it again next year,” Lampe said. “And even if I’m not reelected I will continue to lobby for those issues.”