IV 
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. SA´NCHEZ of California, Mr. 
ELLISON, Mrs. MALONEY, Ms. CLARKE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Mr. 
FATTAH) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred 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, bisex-
ual, and transgender name-calling, bullying, and harass-
ment faced by individuals in schools. 
Whereas the National Day of Silence is a day in which stu-
dents take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti- 
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•HCON 92 IH 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bul-
lying, 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 mem-
ory 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 per-
vasive 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 expres-
sion; 
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 orienta-
tion, 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 orienta-
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•HCON 92 IH 
tion, and nearly 15 percent because of their gender ex-
pression; 
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 gen-
der 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 un-
safe; 
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 ex-
perienced 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 edu-
cation authorities are adopting laws and policies to pro-
hibit name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimina-
tion against students on the basis of their sexual orienta-
tion, gender identity, or gender expression; and 
Whereas every child should be guaranteed an education free 
from name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimina-
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•HCON 92 IH 
tion 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 Na-
tional Day of Silence; 
(2) requests that the President issue a procla-
mation 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 edu-
cation authority to adopt laws and policies to pro-
hibit name-calling, bullying, harassment, and dis-
crimination 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 individ-
uals are able to focus on learning. 
Æ 
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