Oklahoma City School Board Adds Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Fantastic news out of Oklahoma: the Oklahoma City School Board voted 5-2 yesterday to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of categories protected in the Oklahoma City Public Schools anti-bullying policy.

Oklahoma is one of 38 states that does not protect students from bullying and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, so this news is particularly important for students in Oklahoma City schools.

It's also important to remember that these protections extend beyond LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) students because bullying based on perceived sexual orientation is also rampant in schools. You don't have to be gay to be called a fag.