PRINTER'S NO. 3261
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
709
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY ULLMAN, O'MARA, MURT, McNEILL, KENYATTA, SANCHEZ,
COMITTA, DeLISSIO, HILL-EVANS, WILLIAMS, SAPPEY, SHUSTERMAN,
VITALI, BURNS, KIM, DONATUCCI, HOWARD, HOHENSTEIN,
YOUNGBLOOD, READSHAW, FREEMAN, NEILSON, THOMAS, FRANKEL,
ISAACSON, T. DAVIS, RAVENSTAHL, SCHWEYER, GAINEY AND WARREN,
FEBRUARY 4, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, FEBRUARY 4, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 15, 2020, as "Love is Love Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Each year, February 14, better known as Valentine's
Day, receives much media attention with couples and loved ones
proclaiming their love for each other; and
WHEREAS, Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) are often excluded
from Valentine's Day mainstream media coverage; and
WHEREAS, Being an adolescent during a time when those around
you are expressing their love for each other can be
overwhelming, especially if you do not see examples you identify
with; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-six percent of LGBTQ youths say their biggest
problems are not being accepted by their family, trouble at
school and fear to be out or open, making it crucial that
individuals offer love and become allies for LGBTQ youths in
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
their lives; and
WHEREAS, How parents and guardians engage with their LGBTQ
children can have a tremendous impact on their current and
future mental and physical health; and
WHEREAS, Students describe how hearing slurs, lacking
resources relevant to their experience, being discouraged from
having same-sex relationships and being regularly misgendered
make the school a hostile environment, which in turn can impact
their health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, LGBTQ students also described persistent patterns of
isolation, exclusion and marginalization that made them feel
unsafe or unwelcome at school; and
WHEREAS, Supporting and accepting LGBTQ youths around you,
especially during a time when love is being spoken about, can
often help these youths better deal with life challenges and how
they are feeling; and
WHEREAS, In order to continue to promote the health and
safety of LGBTQ youths, schools and programs where youths spend
most of their time should advance the message of respecting
those different from you and prohibit bullying, harassment and
violence against those who identify as LGBTQ; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 73% of LGBTQ youths say they are more
honest about themselves online than in the real world, making it
urgent that more communities in this Commonwealth offer support
to LGBTQ youths around them; and
WHEREAS, Encouraging families and allies to facilitate access
to community-based providers who have experience providing
health services, including medical testing and counseling,
social and psychological services to LGBTQ youths is extremely
beneficial; and
20200HR0709PN3261 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
WHEREAS, Accepting LGBTQ youths in our communities and in
society at large helps remind those who we care about that love
is love regardless of how they identify; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
February 15, 2020, as "Love is Love Day" in Pennsylvania.
20200HR0709PN3261 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5