GLSEN is currently hosting its national conference, Teaching Respect for All, in Washington, DC through September 21st. The conference was going to be kicked off with GLSEN’s first-ever Congressional Lobby Day on Capitol Hill on Thursday, September 18th. On this day, GLSEN members, students, teachers, parents, and concerned citizens were planning to present issues of importance to their Members of Congress and Senators during visits to their DC offices. Due to Hurricane Isabel and the potential hazards it might have brought to our area, GLSEN regrettably had to cancel its Congressional Lobby Day visits. These visits were planned to discuss issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in America’s schools. However, it is still important that we alert Members of Congress and Senators to important issues that would have been raised in those meetings. One of the primary issues that would have been raised is H.Con.Res 86, a resolution supporting the goa ls and ideals of the Day of Silence.
The Day of Silence, a project of GLSEN in partnership with the United States Student Association, is the largest student-led action on LGBT issues in the country. On that Day, participants take a vow of silence in order to draw attention to the discrimination and harassment faced by LGBT people and their allies. In addition, many of the youth participants end the day with “Breaking the Silence” events: rallies, speak-outs and community forums. Students continue to lead the way in organizing observances at K-12 schools and on college and university campuses.
This year Congressman Elliot Engel (D-NY) introduced H.Con.Res 86, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the Day of Silence. In addition to recognizing and supporting the Day of Silence, H.Con.Res 86 encourages each state to adopt laws to prohibit discrimination against LGBT students and school staff and encourages each school district in the U.S. to adopt policies to prohibit discrimination against LGBT students and school staff.
Please take a moment to send the attached letter asking your Representative to join them in officially recognizing the Day of Silence by cosponsoring and supporting H.Con.Res 86.
Take Action Now Click Link: http://glsen.policy.net/
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