[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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