NEW YORK, June 28, 2010 — Illinois on Sunday became the ninth state to enact an enumerated anti-bullying bill that explicitly protects LGBT students from bullying. At a Chicago-area elementary school, Governor Pat Quinn signed the state’s recently passed anti-bullying bill that specifically mentions a list of protected characteristics that includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. The bill passed both chambers overwhelmingly.

New York, which passed a similar law last week, will become the 10th state to enact such a law when Governor David Paterson signs the bill.

“GLSEN applauds Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for signing an anti-bullying law that truly will protect all students from bullying,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. “Research shows that enumerated anti-bullying laws provide the greatest protection for students, and GLSEN thanks the Illinois legislature and Illinois safe schools advocates for ensuring that a strong anti-bullying bill is now the law of the land in Illinois.”

The GLSEN report From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in Illinois found that only half of Illinois students (52%) reported that they felt very safe in their schools.

The national report From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America found that students from schools with policies like the ones passed in Illinois and New York are more likely to feel very safe at school (54% vs. 36%) compared to students at schools without such policies.