[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 92 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 92

   Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence in 
  bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 
name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 1, 2009

  Mr. Engel (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Frank of 
   Massachusetts, Mr. Berman, Ms. Berkley, Mrs. Capps, Mr. Farr, Mr. 
Filner, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Holt, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. 
   McDermott, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Nadler of New York, Ms. Norton, Mr. 
 Pallone, Mr. Polis of Colorado, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Hare, Ms. Wasserman 
 Schultz, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Honda, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Serrano, 
Mrs. Davis of California, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Andrews, Ms. Linda 
 T. Sanchez of California, Mr. Ellison, Mrs. Maloney, Ms. Clarke, Ms. 
    Schakowsky, and Mr. Fattah) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, 
 and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence in 
  bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 
name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools.

Whereas the National Day of Silence is a day in which students take a vow of 
        silence to bring attention to the anti- lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
        transgender name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals 
        in schools;
Whereas the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network designates one day of 
        every April as the National Day of Silence;
Whereas a record number of more than 18,000 students from more than 6,500 middle 
        and high schools registered as participants in the 2008 National Day of 
        Silence;
Whereas the 2008 National Day of Silence was held in memory of Lawrence King, a 
        15-year-old California student who was shot and killed in school in 
        February 2008 by a classmate due to his sexual orientation and gender 
        identity and expression;
Whereas the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's 2007 National School 
        Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive harassment and victimization 
        faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students by documenting 
        their experiences within the preceding academic year;
Whereas more than 85 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        reported being verbally harassed by their peers at school because of 
        their sexual orientation, and more than 66 percent because of their 
        gender expression;
Whereas more than 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        reported being physically harassed by their peers at school because of 
        their sexual orientation, and more than 30 percent because of their 
        gender expression;
Whereas more than 20 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        reported being physically assaulted by their peers at school because of 
        their sexual orientation, and nearly 15 percent because of their gender 
        expression;
Whereas nearly 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        report that faculty and staff never intervene when homophobic remarks 
        were made in their presence, and over 40 percent when remarks about 
        gender expression were made;
Whereas more than 30 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        reported missing at least one entire school day in the preceding month 
        because they felt unsafe;
Whereas lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced high 
        levels of verbal harassment because of their sexual orientation or 
        gender expression are more likely to report that they did not plan to 
        attend college than lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who 
        experienced low levels of such harassment;
Whereas student academic performance is affected such that lesbian, gay, 
        bisexual, and transgender students who experienced high levels of verbal 
        harassment because of their sexual orientation or gender expression 
        report a grade point average nearly a half grade lover than those of 
        lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced low 
        levels of such harassment;
Whereas a growing number of States, cities, and local education authorities are 
        adopting laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, 
        harassment, and discrimination against students on the basis of their 
        sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; and
Whereas every child should be guaranteed an education free from name-calling, 
        bullying, harassment, and discrimination regardless of his or her sexual 
        orientation, gender identity, or gender expression: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the National Day of 
        Silence;
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe the 
        National Day of Silence with appropriate ceremonies, programs, 
        and activities; and
            (3) encourages each State, city, and local education 
        authority to adopt laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, 
        bullying, harassment, and discrimination against students, 
        teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual 
        orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, so that the 
        Nation's schools are institutions where all individuals are 
        able to focus on learning.
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