IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 328 

Supporting the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence with respect 

to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying, 

and harassment faced by individuals in schools. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 15, 2008 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. CAPPS, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. FARR, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. 

GUTIERREZ, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HONDA, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mrs. LOWEY, Mrs. 

MALONEY of New York, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. NADLER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. ROTHMAN, Ms. 

LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SIRES, Ms. 

SOLIS, Mr. STARK, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. WASSERMAN

SCHULTZ, Mr. WEINER, Mr. WEXLER, and Ms. WOOLSEY) 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 with respect 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 antilesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bulVerDate Aug 31 2005 03:43 Apr 16, 2008 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC328.IH HC328

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•HCON 328 IH 

lying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools, including students, teachers, and other school staff; 

Whereas the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network 

designated one day of every April as the National Day 

of Silence; 

Whereas the 2008 National Day of Silence will be held in 

memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old California student who was shot and killed in school in February by 

a 14-year-old classmate because of King’s sexual orientation and gender identity and expression; 

Whereas more than 500,000 students from more than 5,000 

junior and high schools participated in the National Day 

of Silence in previous years; 

Whereas the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s 2005 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, 

gender identity, 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, gender identity, 

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, gender 

identity, or gender expression; 

Whereas over 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 

transgender students reported that faculty and staff 


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never intervene when homophobic language is used in 

their presence; 

Whereas nearly 30 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 

transgender students reported missing at least one entire 

schoolday 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 based on sexual orientation, 

gender identity, and gender expression has a negative impact on student academic performance, such that grade 

point averages are a half grade lower than those for other 

students; 

Whereas 40 States do not have laws protecting lesbian, gay, 

bisexual, and transgender students from name-calling, 

bullying, and harassment that occurs at school because of 

sexual orientation; 

Whereas only five States and the District of Columbia have 

laws protecting students from anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, 

and transgender name-calling, bullying, and harassment 

based on their gender identity or 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 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 


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1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of the Na2 tional Day of Silence; 

3 (2) requests that the President issue a procla4 mation calling on the people of the United States to 

5 observe the National Day of Silence with appropriate 

6 ceremonies, programs, and activities; and 

7 (3) encourages each State, city, and local edu8 cation authority to adopt laws and policies to pro9 hibit name-calling, bullying, harassment, and dis10 crimination against students, teachers, and other 

11 school staff regardless of their sexual orientation, 

12 gender identity, or gender expression, so that our 

13 schools are institutions where all individuals are able 

14 to focus on learning. 

Æ 


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