Title: Supporting the goals and ideals of GLSEN's 2021 Day of Silence in bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools.
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This concurrent resolution supports the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence (during which students vow to remain silent to bring attention to the harassment and discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning individuals in schools).

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 29 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 29

   Supporting the goals and ideals of GLSEN's 2021 Day of Silence in 
bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, 
 and questioning (LGBTQ+) name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced 
                       by individuals in schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 19, 2021

  Mr. Takano 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 GLSEN's 2021 Day of Silence in 
bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, 
 and questioning (LGBTQ+) 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 anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, 
        transgender, queer, and questioning name-calling, bullying, and 
        harassment faced by individuals in schools;
Whereas GLSEN is a national nonprofit organization working to create safe and 
        affirming learning environments in primary and secondary schools 
        nationwide, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender 
        expression;
Whereas GLSEN designates one day of every April as the Day of Silence;
Whereas hundreds of thousands of students at thousands of schools have 
        participated in the National Day of Silence in past years;
Whereas GLSEN's 2019 National School Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive 
        harassment and victimization faced by LGBTQ+ middle and high school 
        students by documenting their experiences within the preceding academic 
        year;
Whereas nearly 70 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported being verbally harassed by 
        their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and nearly 57 
        percent because of their gender expression;
Whereas nearly 26 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported being physically harassed 
        by their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and nearly 
        22 percent because of their gender expression;
Whereas 11 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported being physically assaulted by 
        their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and 9 percent 
        because of their gender expression;
Whereas nearly 45 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported being cyberbullied;
Whereas nearly 56 percent of Asian-American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ students 
        experienced harassment or assault related to their sexual orientation in 
        the past year;
Whereas 82 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native LGBTQ+ (or Two Spirit) 
        students felt unsafe based on their sexual orientation in the past year;
Whereas 60 percent of Latinx LGBTQ+ students experienced bullying based on their 
        gender expression in the past year;
Whereas nearly 60 percent of Black LGBTQ+ students experienced bullying based on 
        their sexual orientation in the past year;
Whereas 44 percent of multiracial LGBTQ+ students felt unsafe in school based on 
        the way they express their gender;
Whereas nearly 37 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported being harassed at school 
        based on their actual or perceived disability status;
Whereas 59 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported that they felt unsafe in school 
        because of their sexual orientation, and nearly 33 percent reported 
        missing at least one entire school day in the preceding month because of 
        safety concerns;
Whereas transgender students were more likely than all other students to report 
        feeling unsafe at school because of their gender expression;
Whereas transgender students were more likely to report missing school or 
        changing schools because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable;
Whereas student academic performance is affected such that LGBTQ+ students who 
        experienced high levels of harassment and assault because of their 
        sexual orientation or gender expression report a lower grade point 
        average than those of LGBTQ+ students who experienced low levels of such 
        harassment and assault;
Whereas the presence of supportive staff contributed to a range of positive 
        indicators including fewer reports of missing school, fewer reports of 
        feeling unsafe, greater academic achievement, higher educational 
        aspirations, and a greater sense of school belonging;
Whereas a growing number of States, cities, and local education authorities are 
        adopting laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, 
        harassment, and discrimination against students on the basis of their 
        sexual orientation and 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 and gender identity or expression: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the National Day of 
        Silence; and
            (2) encourages each State, city, and local educational 
        agency to adopt laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, 
        bullying, harassment, and discrimination against students, 
        teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual 
        orientation and gender identity or expression, so that the 
        Nation's schools are institutions where all individuals are 
        able to focus on learning.
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