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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 126 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 126

 Supporting the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence with respect to 
  discrimination and harassment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
                  transgender individuals in schools.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 23, 2007

Mr. Engel (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Farr, Mr. Holt, Mr. Stark, Mr. 
     Pallone, Mr. Meehan, and Mr. McNulty) 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 Day of Silence with respect to 
  discrimination and harassment faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
                  transgender individuals in schools.

Whereas the Day of Silence is a day on which students take a vow to remain 
        silent for a full day in order to bring attention to the harassment and 
        discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 
        individuals in schools, including students, teachers, and other school 
        staff;
Whereas the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, in partnership with 
        the United States Student Association, has designated the third 
        Wednesday of every April as the Day of Silence;
Whereas more than 500,000 students from more than 5,000 junior and high schools 
        participated in the Day of Silence in 2006;
Whereas the 2005 Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network National School 
        Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive harassment and victimization of 
        lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students;
Whereas more than 80 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        have been verbally harassed at school by their peers because of their 
        sexual orientation or gender expression;
Whereas nearly 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        were physically harassed by their peers because of their sexual 
        orientation or gender expression;
Whereas nearly 20 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        were physically assaulted by their peers at school because of their 
        sexual orientation or gender expression;
Whereas almost 41 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students 
        reported that faculty and staff never intervene when homophobic language 
        is used in their presence;
Whereas almost 29 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students 
        reported missing at least one entire school day in the last month 
        because they felt unsafe;
Whereas lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth who experienced high 
        levels of verbal harassment because of their sexual orientation are more 
        likely to report that they did not plan to attend college than youth who 
        never or rarely experienced such harassment;
Whereas unchecked harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation and 
        gender expression has a negative impact on student academic performance 
        such that grade point averages are a half grade lower than for other 
        students;
Whereas 39 States do not have laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and 
        transgender students from discrimination or harassment that occurs at 
        school because of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; 
        and
Whereas every child should be guaranteed an education free from discrimination 
        and harassment regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity 
        and expression; Now, therefore, be it;
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That the Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence;
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe the Day 
        of Silence with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and 
        activities; and
            (3) encourages each city and State to adopt laws to 
        prohibit discrimination and harassment against students, 
        teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual 
        orientation and gender identity and expression so that our 
        schools are institutions where all individuals are able to 
        focus on learning.
                                 <all>
```