H. C. R. No. 13 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. C. R. No. 13

Representative Antonio

Cosponsors: Representatives Clyde, Rogers, Stinziano, Ramos, Szollosi, Pillich, Ashford, Fedor, Hagan, R., Lundy, Driehaus, Celebrezze, Williams

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To declare the third Friday in April the National Day 1
of Silence in Ohio to bring attention to 2
anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 3
name-calling, bullying, and harassment in schools. 4

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, The National Day of Silence is a day in which 5
students take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti- 6
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying, 7
and harassment faced by individuals in schools; and 8

       WHEREAS, The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network 9
designates the third Friday of every April as the National Day of 10
Silence; and 11

       WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of students at more than 8,000 12
schools have participated in the National Day of Silence in past 13
years; and 14

       WHEREAS, The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's 15
2011 National School Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive 16
harassment and victimization faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 17
transgender students by documenting their experiences within the 18
preceding academic year; and 19

       WHEREAS, According to the report, nearly eighty-two per cent 20
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students reported being 21
verbally harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual 22
orientation, and more than sixty per cent because of their gender 23
expression; and 24

       WHEREAS, More than thirty-eight per cent of lesbian, gay, 25
bisexual, and transgender students reported being physically 26
harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual 27
orientation, and over twenty-seven per cent because of their 28
gender expression; and 29

       WHEREAS, Over eighteen per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, 30
and transgender students reported being physically assaulted by 31
their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and 32
more than twelve per cent because of their gender expression; and 33

       WHEREAS, More than sixty per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, 34
and transgender students reported that they felt unsafe in school, 35
and nearly thirty per cent reported missing at least one entire 36
school day in the preceding month because of safety concerns; and 37

       WHEREAS, Transgender students reportedly are more likely than 38
all other students to report feeling unsafe at school because of 39
their gender expression; and 40

       WHEREAS, According to the National Transgender Discrimination 41
Survey, issued jointly by the National Center for Transgender 42
Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, those who 43
expressed a transgender identity or gender nonconformity while in 44
grades kindergarten through twelve reported alarming rates of 45
harassment, physical assault, and sexual violence so severe that 46
almost fifteen per cent of those surveyed had to leave school; and 47

       WHEREAS, Student academic performance is affected such that 48
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced 49
high levels of verbal harassment because of their sexual 50
orientation or gender expression report a grade point average 51
nearly a half grade lower than those of lesbian, gay, bisexual, 52
and transgender students who experienced low levels of such 53
harassment; and 54

       WHEREAS, The presence of supportive staff contributed to a 55
range of positive indicators including fewer reports of missing 56
school, fewer reports of feeling unsafe, greater academic 57
achievement, higher educational aspirations, and a greater sense 58
of school belonging; and 59

       WHEREAS, Cities and school districts in this state are 60
adopting policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, harassment, 61
and discrimination against students on the basis of their sexual 62
orientation and gender identity or expression; and 63

       WHEREAS, Every child should be guaranteed an education free 64
from name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimination 65
regardless of his or her sexual orientation and gender identity or 66
expression; now therefore be it 67

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 68
of the State of Ohio, designate the third Friday of April of 2013 69
as the National Day of Silence in Ohio, support the goals and 70
ideals of the National Day of Silence, and call on the people of 71
the state to observe the National Day of Silence with appropriate 72
ceremonies, programs, and activities; and be it further 73

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 74
of the State of Ohio, encourage cities and school districts in 75
this state to adopt policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, 76
harassment, and discrimination against students, teachers, and 77
other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation and 78
gender identity or expression, so that the state's schools are 79
institutions where all individuals are able to focus on learning; 80
and be it further 81

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 82
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 83
Governor of Ohio and to the news media of Ohio. 84

WHEREAS, The National Day of Silence is a day in which	5
students take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti-	6
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender name-calling, bullying,	7
and harassment faced by individuals in schools; and	8

WHEREAS, The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network	9
designates the third Friday of every April as the National Day of	10
Silence; and	11

WHEREAS, Hundreds of thousands of students at more than 8,000	12
schools have participated in the National Day of Silence in past	13
years; and	14

WHEREAS, The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's	15
2011 National School Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive	16
harassment and victimization faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and	17
transgender students by documenting their experiences within the	18
preceding academic year; and	19

WHEREAS, According to the report, nearly eighty-two per cent	20
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students reported being	21
verbally harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual	22
orientation, and more than sixty per cent because of their gender	23
expression; and	24

WHEREAS, More than thirty-eight per cent of lesbian, gay,	25
bisexual, and transgender students reported being physically	26
harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual	27
orientation, and over twenty-seven per cent because of their	28
gender expression; and	29

WHEREAS, Over eighteen per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual,	30
and transgender students reported being physically assaulted by	31
their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and	32
more than twelve per cent because of their gender expression; and	33

WHEREAS, More than sixty per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual,	34
and transgender students reported that they felt unsafe in school,	35
and nearly thirty per cent reported missing at least one entire	36
school day in the preceding month because of safety concerns; and	37

WHEREAS, Transgender students reportedly are more likely than	38
all other students to report feeling unsafe at school because of	39
their gender expression; and	40

WHEREAS, According to the National Transgender Discrimination	41
Survey, issued jointly by the National Center for Transgender	42
Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, those who	43
expressed a transgender identity or gender nonconformity while in	44
grades kindergarten through twelve reported alarming rates of	45
harassment, physical assault, and sexual violence so severe that	46
almost fifteen per cent of those surveyed had to leave school; and	47

WHEREAS, Student academic performance is affected such that	48
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experienced	49
high levels of verbal harassment because of their sexual	50
orientation or gender expression report a grade point average	51
nearly a half grade lower than those of lesbian, gay, bisexual,	52
and transgender students who experienced low levels of such	53
harassment; and	54

WHEREAS, The presence of supportive staff contributed to a	55
range of positive indicators including fewer reports of missing	56
school, fewer reports of feeling unsafe, greater academic	57
achievement, higher educational aspirations, and a greater sense	58
of school belonging; and	59

WHEREAS, Cities and school districts in this state are	60
adopting policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, harassment,	61
and discrimination against students on the basis of their sexual	62
orientation and gender identity or expression; and	63

WHEREAS, Every child should be guaranteed an education free	64
from name-calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimination	65
regardless of his or her sexual orientation and gender identity or	66
expression; now therefore be it	67

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	68
of the State of Ohio, designate the third Friday of April of 2013	69
as the National Day of Silence in Ohio, support the goals and	70
ideals of the National Day of Silence, and call on the people of	71
the state to observe the National Day of Silence with appropriate	72
ceremonies, programs, and activities; and be it further	73

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	74
of the State of Ohio, encourage cities and school districts in	75
this state to adopt policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying,	76
harassment, and discrimination against students, teachers, and	77
other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation and	78
gender identity or expression, so that the state's schools are	79
institutions where all individuals are able to focus on learning;	80
and be it further	81

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives	82
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the	83
Governor of Ohio and to the news media of Ohio.	84