High School Student Katy Butler Petitions to Remove 'R' Rating from BULLY; Will be Honored by GLAAD

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Katy Butler, a bullied Michigan high school student who has mobilized more than 425,000 people calling on the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to drop its "R" rating for the upcoming documentary "Bully," will travel to New York City this week to raise awareness about her campaign and to attend a special film screening of "Bully" hosted by actress Meryl Streep. Butler will also be recognized by producer Harvey Weinstein at a Media Awards ceremony hosted by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). ??

Butler, a 17-year-old bullied student who started a campaign on Change.org that has received support from more than 425,000 people, urging the MPAA to drop its "R" rating for the film "Bully" and replace it with a "PG-13" rating. Last week the Washington Post dubbed Butler "a new voice against bullying," touting the success of her campaign.

After the MPAA ruled by one vote that the upcoming documentary "Bully" should receive an "R" rating, Katy Butler started a petition on Change.org urging the MPAA to reconsider. According to Butler, the movie "Bully" needs to be seen by middle school students and high school students the most, given the epidemic of school bullying in the United States. An "R" rating, Butler says, will prevent that audience from being able to see the film. Butler, who was bullied so bad in middle school that bullies broke her finger during an assault, delivered more than 200,000 petition signatures to the MPAA's office in Los Angeles on March 7. Her campaign continues to pick up supporters, including celebrities like Ellen Degeneres, Randy Jackson, Michael Jordan, NFL quarterback Drew Brees, as well as U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and a bipartisan group of 29 Members of Congress who have sent a letter to the MPAA in support of Butler's petition. ??

Katy Butler will be in New York City from Tuesday, March 20 -- Saturday, March 24, 2012. ??

Katy Butler's petition can be viewed at www.change.org/bully.