IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 126 
Supporting the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence with respect to discrimi-
nation 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 pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence with 
respect to discrimination and harassment faced by les-
bian, 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; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:37 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC126.IH
HC126
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 126 IH 
Whereas the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, 
in partnership with the United States Student Associa-
tion, 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 ex-
pression; 
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 gen-
der 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; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:37 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC126.IH
HC126
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 126 IH 
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 stu-
dents; 
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 ori-
entation 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 procla-
mation calling on the people of the United States to 
observe the Day of Silence with appropriate cere-
monies, 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 re-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:37 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HC126.IH
HC126
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS
•HCON 126 IH 
gardless of their sexual orientation and gender iden-
tity and expression so that our schools are institu-
tions where all individuals are able to focus on learn-
ing. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
21:37 Apr 27, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC126.IH
HC126
ycherry on PROD1PC64 with BILLS