[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6129]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL DAY OF SILENCE

  (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the National Day of 
Silence.
  Tomorrow is the 17th year we have commemorated the National Day of 
Silence. It is a time when students across the country remain silent 
for a whole day to draw attention to discrimination towards their LGBT 
peers.
  Our country has made great progress towards more acceptable and 
tolerance for gay and lesbian individuals; however, gender-expansive 
students, gender-diverse students, and straight allies still face a lot 
of fear and discrimination. I want all these students to know they are 
not alone.
  I say this every year, but I continue to be so proud of my young 
constituents, their parents and families who are working to make the 
world a better place for all people no matter your race, your color, 
your gender, or your sexual orientation.
  For example, Jordan, a ninth grade transgender male student at The 
Ark in Santa Cruz will be one of the emcees for the 17th Annual Queer 
Youth Leadership Awards in Capitola. Jordan's mom, Heidi, is an 
advisory council member to the Trans* Teen Project and a facilitator of 
the Transfamily Support Group.
  Though many LGBT students and their allies are silent tomorrow, we in 
Congress must never be silent. It is our job to speak for those who 
cannot speak for themselves.

                          ____________________