This morning, Sirdeaner Walker, the mother of 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker Hoover who died by suicide this April after enduring relentless anti-gay bullying in his school, testified before two congressional subcommittees and called for the passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, a federal anti-bullying bill introduced May 5 in the House of Representatives. The Trevor Project was proud to join members of the National Safe Schools Partnership in supporting this vital act.

Watch the video of Sirdeaner Walker’s full testimony, or click here to read the transcript from our friends at GLSEN.

We applaud Carl’s brave and inspirational mother for her tireless efforts to make schools in this country safe for all students. “After Carl died, I could have stayed home and mourned him, but instead, I’ve chosen to get involved, to speak out about bullying – and I have learned a lot in a short time,” she says in her testimony. “And the most important thing I’ve learned is that bullying is not an inevitable part of growing up. It can be prevented. And there isn’t a moment to lose.”

You can join us in supporting the passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act by signing GLSEN’s online petition.

Sirdeaner Walker testifies before two congressional subcommittees this morning.