From a Human Rights Campaign news release
Washington — The Human Rights Campaign — the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization — is calling into question Mitt Romney's character, after a piece in the Washington Post raises troubling incidents from the candidate's past. In the article, classmates of Romney at the prestigious Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, recall Romney perpetually teasing a classmate perceived to be gay, at one point yelling to the long-haired classmate, "He can't look like that. That's wrong. Just look at him!" Eventually the verbal harassment turned into physical violence, when Romney led a group of students who tackled him, pinned him to the ground, and cut his hair with a pair of scissors, all because Romney didn't like the way he looked.
According to the article, Mitt Romney claims to have no recollection of the physical altercation, or of bullying the student. However, five of his classmates gave their accounts of the incident to the Washington Post and all have similar recollections of what transpired. One of the students, recalling the victim being terrified, later apologized to him and said, "What a senseless, stupid, idiotic thing to do." In an interview after the article was published, Romney recalled his youth saying, "Back in high school I did some dumb things."
Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in 1998 said: "While this may seem like an innocent prank to some, it was an act of torment against a child for being different. We expect the people we elect to be leaders in the charge against bullying so that all students are afforded the right to learn and grow in an environment free of fear. This incident calls into question whether Mitt Romney can be an advocate for the nation's most vulnerable children."
"We cannot look past this incident now that Romney is the presumptive Republican nominee for president," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Mitt Romney's unwillingness to understand or acknowledge the gravity of his actions and sincerely apologize is a troubling suggestion of a lack of character."
With Mitt Romney's anti-gay past exposed, it is clear why he has flip flopped on the issue of LGBT rights, becoming a vehemently anti-equality candidate in the race for the presidency. Yesterday as President Obama demonstrated clear leadership in expressing his support for marriage equality, Romney told a Denver news station: "If a civil union is identical to marriage other than in the name, I don't support that."
"Mitt Romney has come full-circle in his views on LGBT equality. He has gone from being a bully perpetuating violence on a classmate who was different from him, to a candidate who in 1994 said he would be better to the LGBT community than Ted Kennedy, to a candidate in 2012 whose views are in line with the most fringe anti-LGBT groups," added Solmonese.
Learn more about Romney's disastrous track record on issues of LGBT equality at hrc.org/mittnmatch.
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
GLSEN Calls on Romney to clarify position on bullying, harassment and anti-LGBT bias in schools
NEW YORK, May 10, 2012 - The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network ( GLSEN ) calls on Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney to clarify his position on efforts to prevent bullying, harassment and assault in schools after revelations regarding his own behavior as a student led to a dismissive "apology" for his participation in an assault on a gay student.
The Washington Post today reported that while a senior at Cranbrook Schools in Michigan Romney led a group of classmates who tackled and pinned a gay classmate and forcibly cut his hair while the student screamed for help and tears filled his eyes. Romney, who while Governor of Massachusetts cut funding for and threatened to eliminate a commission established to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) students, responded on Fox News by saying he didn't remember the incident and, "I participated in a lot of hijinks and pranks in high school and some of them might have gone too far, and I apologize."
"This is deeply troubling behavior on the part of an individual in Governor Mitt Romney's position. Romney's so-called apology for his past actions sheds new light on his disturbing track record on bullying and suicide prevention while Governor of Massachusetts," GLSEN Executive Director Dr. Eliza Byard said. "Far from being 'hijinks' or a 'prank,' Romney's behavior toward his high school classmate amounted to harassment and assault. And GLSEN remembers all too well Romney's troubling record while he was Governor of Massachusetts on programs designed to protect LGBT youth and prevent youth suicide. Nearly one in five lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students will be assaulted at school this year. What would Mr. Romney propose to do as President to address this horrifying reality?
"It is critical that Mr. Romney make clear how he would approach these issues as President. Would he again seek to end important measures initiated by a previous administration, as he did in MA? Would he support the efforts of Congress to address these issues through endorsement of the Safe Schools Improvement Act and Student Non-Discrimination Act?"
To learn more, please read GLSEN's one-page policy resource explaining both pieces of federal legislation.
While Governor of Massachusetts, Romney threatened to eliminate the state's LGBT Youth Commission, which was established through an executive order by Republican Governor William Weld. The Legislature had to scramble to pass a law to keep it alive.
GLSEN's 2009 National School Climate Survey found that 84.6% of LGBT students experienced harassment at school in the past year, 18.8% were assaulted and 61.1 felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.
The bipartisan Safe Schools Improvement Act would require all public schools to enact anti-bullying policies that include protections based on the characteristics of students most often targeted for bullying, including bullying based on race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
The bipartisan Student Non-Discrimination Act would make discrimination in schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity against the law.
About GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org .
