After more than six years pushing for legislation against bullying in Michigan, Kevin Epling thought he could rest easier knowing he helped make a change for troubled youth. Michigan is currently one of three states without a law prohibiting harassment in schools.

That is, until Wednesday, Nov. 2, when the state Senate snuck in a clause ensuring that the bill "does not prohibit a statement of a sincerely held belief for moral conviction."

Epling's son Matt killed himself in 2002 after being bullied by upperclassmen in his high school. Would a law that prohibits bullying, unless in defense of a moral or religious belief, have prevented this tragedy?

Absolutely not. "Matt's Safe School Law" gives special rights to students to abuse LGBTQ kids because their religion forbids homosexuality. People are entitled to their religious beliefs, but not to abuse and to cause the suffering of another human being.

Lawmakers say the addition is intended to uphold First Amendment rights. That's just an excuse. The constitution does not protect anyone's ability to torment someone based on his or her sexuality, gender or religion.

I'm not saying students shouldn't be allowed to say "based on my religion, I do not believe in gay marriage." That's fair, everyone is entitled to the tenets of his or her faith. But this law lets them say much more. It allows students that would declare the above statement to personally attack, confront, humiliate and devalue others.

This is not just about LGBTQ issues or an individual's religious beliefs. Remember the Holocaust? What about the Jim Crow South? The perpetrators of these heinous atrocities used their "sincerely held belief or moral conviction" to justify the slaughter and oppression of others. Bullying in schools may be on a smaller scale, but the same principles apply.

Democratic Michigan Sen. Gretchen Whitmer tearfully spoke out against the bill, begging the Senate not to support the injustice. But all 26 Republican senators voted in its favor. Despite 11 Democratic votes against it, the bill will now advance to the lower house.

Epling similarly released a video Nov. 3, holding the Republican members of the Michigan Senate responsible for giving a license to bully to a special protected class of students.

If the father of the bill, the father of the child for whom it is named, is against the legislation, doesn't that say it has obviously not accomplished its goal?

I am deeply saddened that Epling has to hear his son's name associated with this bill. After years of fighting for an end to the cruelty that caused Matt's death, he has come so close to accomplishing his goal. His struggle was in vain if the Senate allows this promotion of inequality to disrespect Matt's memory, and destroy the future of those bullied in school. The state of Michigan should be ashamed.