PRINTER'S NO. 1191
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
242
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SIMS, COHEN, KINSEY, KIM, HENNESSEY, SCHWEYER,
DONATUCCI, BROWNLEE, V. BROWN, FARINA, SCHREIBER, THOMAS,
McCARTER, McNEILL, FRANKEL, O'BRIEN, ROSS, BOYLE, WHEELAND,
CALTAGIRONE, C. PARKER, YOUNGBLOOD, WATSON, SCHLOSSBERG AND
GINGRICH, APRIL 14, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 14, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Supporting the goals and ideals of the "National Day of Silence"
to bring attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender name-calling, bullying and harassment faced by
individuals in schools.
WHEREAS, The "National Day of Silence" is a day on which
students take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti-
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender name-calling, bullying
and harassment faced by individuals in schools; and
WHEREAS, The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
designates the third Friday of every April as the "National Day
of Silence"; and
WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of students at more than 8,000
schools have participated in the "National Day of Silence" in
past years; and
WHEREAS, The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's
2013 National School Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive
harassment and victimization faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and
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transgender students by documenting their experiences within the
preceding academic year; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 75% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students reported being verbally harassed by their peers at
school because of their sexual orientation, and more than 55%
because of their gender expression; and
WHEREAS, Thirty-six percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender students reported being physically harassed by their
peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and over
20% because of their gender expression; and
WHEREAS, Over 15% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students reported being physically assaulted by their peers at
school because of their sexual orientation, and more than 10%
because of their gender expression; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 60% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students reported that they felt unsafe in school, and nearly
30% reported missing at least one entire school day in the
preceding month because of safety concerns; and
WHEREAS, Transgender students were more likely than all other
students to report feeling unsafe at school because of their
gender expression; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Transgender Discrimination
Survey, those who expressed a transgender identity or gender
nonconformity while in grades K through 12 reported alarming
rates of harassment, physical assault and sexual violence so
severe that almost 15% of those surveyed had to leave school;
and
WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students who
experienced high levels of verbal harassment because of their
sexual orientation or gender expression report a grade point
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average nearly a half grade lower than those of lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender students who experienced low levels of
such harassment; and
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; and
WHEREAS, A growing number of cities and local education
authorities in the Commonwealth 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; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support the goals
and ideals of the "National Day of Silence" and call on the
people of Pennsylvania to observe the "National Day of Silence"
with appropriate ceremonies, programs and activities; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage city
and local educational authorities in the Commonwealth to adopt
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 our schools are institutions where all
individuals are able to focus on learning.
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