The mayor of Porterville, California recently recommended that children who are being bullied ‘grow a pair’ and learn to stand up for themselves.

The mayor of Porterville, California recently recommended that children who are being bullied ‘grow a pair’ and learn to stand up for themselves.

At the time of his comment, the city council was considering establishing safe zones for kids being picked on.

According to the plan, young people being harassed or battered could find refuge at one of numerous places throughout the city.

Mayor Cameron Hamilton had another, and quite different, idea.

He said, “I’m against bullying, but I’m getting damn tired of it being used as a mantra for everything, and the ills of the world… people just have to grow a pair, and stick up for them damn selves.”

Many are outraged by the mayor’s comments, and among them are gay rights activists who say that homosexual children are quite often the targets of abusive behavior.

Mayor Hamilton has since explained that he’s not anti-gay, just opposed to what would be a costly undertaking.