[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1200
                        NATIONAL DAY OF SILENCE

  (Mr. PANETTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Day 
of Silence that is going to happen this Friday, April 12. That is a day 
when people around the country and in my community on the central coast 
of California take a vow of silence to raise awareness about the issues 
faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students.
  One of those students will be Oliver Cantrell, who lives in Santa 
Cruz and is transgender and bisexual. As president of the queer-
straight alliance at Harbor High, Oliver works to build bridges between 
students and school staff through education and outreach.
  When Oliver transferred to Harbor High, he was met with support. 
However, we know there are students at other schools who may not be so 
lucky. That is exactly why Oliver is taking a vow of silence to 
highlight the struggle for acceptance by LGBTQ youth.
  Many students will take that vow of silence this Friday. That is why 
we as leaders should continue to speak up and step up every day to 
ensure that all Americans are respected and appreciated for who they 
are.

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