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H. C. R. No. 13 As IntroducedAs Introduced
| 130th General Assembly | | Regular Session | | 2013-2014 |
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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
of Silence in Ohio to bring attention to
anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
name-calling, bullying, and harassment in schools.
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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
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 2011 National School Climate Survey illustrates the pervasive
harassment and victimization faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender students by documenting their experiences within the
preceding academic year; and |
| WHEREAS, According to the report, nearly eighty-two per cent
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students reported being
verbally harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual
orientation, and more than sixty per cent because of their gender
expression; and |
| WHEREAS, More than thirty-eight per cent of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender students reported being physically
harassed by their peers at school because of their sexual
orientation, and over twenty-seven per cent because of their
gender expression; and |
| WHEREAS, Over eighteen per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender students reported being physically assaulted by
their peers at school because of their sexual orientation, and
more than twelve per cent because of their gender expression; and |
| WHEREAS, More than sixty per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender students reported that they felt unsafe in school,
and nearly thirty per cent reported missing at least one entire
school day in the preceding month because of safety concerns; and |
| WHEREAS, Transgender students reportedly are 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, issued jointly by the National Center for Transgender
Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, those who
expressed a transgender identity or gender nonconformity while in
grades kindergarten through twelve reported alarming rates of
harassment, physical assault, and sexual violence so severe that
almost fifteen per cent of those surveyed had to leave school; and |
| WHEREAS, Student academic performance is affected such that
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 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, Cities and school districts in this state are
adopting 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, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly
of the State of Ohio, designate the third Friday of April of 2013
as the National Day of Silence in Ohio, support the goals and
ideals of the National Day of Silence, and call on the people of
the state to observe the National Day of Silence with appropriate
ceremonies, programs, and activities; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly
of the State of Ohio, encourage cities and school districts in
this state 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 the state's schools are
institutions where all individuals are able to focus on learning;
and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the
Governor of Ohio and to the news media of Ohio. |
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