[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 86 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 86
Supporting the goals and ideals of GLSEN's 2022 Day of Silence in
bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
non-binary, Two-Spirit, intersex, and questioning (LGBTQ+) bullying,
harassment, discrimination, and other forms of victimization faced by
individuals in schools.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 21, 2022
Mr. Takano (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Kilmer, Mrs. Carolyn B.
Maloney of New York, Ms. Omar, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Higgins of New York,
Ms. Titus, Mr. Grijalva, Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Brown of Ohio,
Mr. Evans, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Pappas, Mrs.
Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Bowman, Ms. Dean, Mr. Moulton,
Mr. Welch, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Jacobs of California, Ms. Newman, Mr.
Nadler, Ms. Meng, Mr. Aguilar, Ms. DelBene, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Ms.
Sanchez, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Wexton, Mr. Soto, Ms. Craig, Mr. Torres of
New York, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. Dingell, Ms.
Lofgren, Ms. Chu, Mr. Pocan, Mr. Kahele, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr.
Tonko, Mr. Bera, Mr. Jones, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Danny K. Davis of
Illinois, Ms. Escobar, Ms. Manning, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, and Mr.
Malinowski) 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 2022 Day of Silence in
bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
non-binary, Two-Spirit, intersex, and questioning (LGBTQ+) bullying,
harassment, discrimination, and other forms of victimization 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-LGBTQ+ bullying, harassment,
discrimination, and other forms of victimization 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 69 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 over 9
percent because of their gender expression;
Whereas nearly 45 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported being cyberbullied;
Whereas 17 percent of LGBTQ+ youth reported being taught negative
representations of LGBTQ+ people and history;
Whereas nearly 56 percent of Asian-American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ students
experienced harassment or assault related to their sexual orientation;
Whereas 82 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native LGBTQ+ (or Two-Spirit)
students experienced bullying based on their sexual orientation;
Whereas 60 percent of Latinx LGBTQ+ students experienced bullying based on their
gender expression;
Whereas nearly 59 percent of Black LGBTQ+ students experienced bullying based on
their sexual orientation;
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, and were
more likely to report missing school or changing schools because they
felt unsafe or uncomfortable;
Whereas more than 77 percent of transgender students experienced discrimination
at school;
Whereas student academic performance is affected such that LGBTQ+ students who
experienced high levels of victimization because of their sexual
orientation, gender identity, or gender expression report a lower grade
point average than those of LGBTQ+ students who experienced low levels
of such victimization;
Whereas the presence of four supports--supportive educators, peer networks of
support, comprehensive school and district policies, and curriculum that
includes positive representations of LGBTQ+ people and history--
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 educational agencies are
adopting laws and policies to prohibit bullying, harassment, and
discrimination against students on the basis of their sexual
orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; and
Whereas every child should be guaranteed an education free from bullying,
harassment, and discrimination regardless of their 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 National Day of
Silence; and
(2) encourages each State, city, and local educational
agency to adopt laws and policies to prohibit bullying,
harassment, and discrimination 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 individuals are able to
focus on learning.
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