Bully Petition Grabs Lawmakers Attention
A 17-year-old from Michigan has captured headlines for a petition she started to change the R rating for a documentary on teenage bullying, and now she has the support of lawmakers.
Since Katy Butler started her petition in February to get the rating changed to PG-13 she has been able not only to spread her word on social media, but also to get more than 275,000 signatures as well.
Butler took about 200,000 of those signatures to the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) Los Angeles office last week when she met Joan Graves, the MPAA's Head of Classification and Ratings Division, according to hollywoodnews.com.
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Butler has also attracted the attention of many politicians. Representative Mike Honda of California sent a letter to the MPAA, which has been signed by 20 Members of Congress expressing support for Butler's cause.
The letter reads in part: "We are writing to express our sincere disappointment in the MPAA's decision to issue an 'R' rating for the soon-to-be-released documentary Bully. This important project shows the real life anguish of many teenagers in this country who are tormented, harassed, and bullied by their peer."
In addition to lawmakers, celebrities have also voiced their support.
Demi Lovato encouraged others to sign the Change.org petition by posting: "Please help repeal the R rating on 'BULLY.' EVERYONE should be able to see it. Sign the petition," on her Twitter page.
Justin Bieber tweeted: "Just watched the #BULLY movie. really intense. really powerful. we need to stand up for each other."
City Councilman Jim Kenney of Philadelphia explained that he thinks it should be shown in schools.
"This film, for me, is more about the kids who are not the bullies, the kids who are spectators, so that they find the power to step in, in a helpful and purposeful way, to stop this stuff," according to CBS.
The reason for the R rating is due to obscenities in the film, but Kenny thinks language should not be an issue.
"I can watch Arnold Schwarzenegger kill 100 people, and it's PG-13. I don't think language should be the determining factor on its rating."
