WASHINGTON (July 9, 2009) – The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, submitted testimony to the United States House of Representatives Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities of the Committee on Education and Labor, emphasizing the potentially deadly effects of bullying and harassment in schools, especially among LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project called for the passage of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which would require that states, districts and schools develop policies and programs to prevent and appropriately respond to instances of bullying and harassment as a condition of receiving federal funding.
During the Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying hearing on July 8, The Trevor Project provided a detailed statement, which also highlighted the importance of implementing anti-harassment policies that include enumeration based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“The July 8 hearing was a step in the right direction as we increase awareness among policymakers about the vitality of ensuring that our country’s schools are safe, inclusive places that are free of discrimination and harassment for all young people,” said Charles Robbins, executive director and CEO, The Trevor Project. “We remain committed to working toward the enactment of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which we are certain will be an integral part of suicide prevention initiatives in schools.”
The Safe Schools Improvement Act, sponsored by Calif. Rep. Linda Sanchez and 60 bipartisan co-sponsors, would also require that schools receiving Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act funding implement comprehensive anti-bullying and harassment policies that include enumeration categories such as sexual orientation, gender identity, race and religion.
Youth who identify as LGBTQ are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers due to a myriad of increased social challenges and risk factors, including being subjected to anti-gay sentiments and bullying at school, at home and in public. In April, two 11-year-old boys, Carl Walker-Hoover and Jaheem Herrera, died by suicide in isolated instances after enduring relentless anti-gay bullying at their separate schools. The mothers of both boys complained to school administrators to no avail. Sirdeaner Walker, Carl’s mother, testified in the same hearing as The Trevor Project on July 8.
“I know that bullying is not a gay issue, or a straight issue,” Walker said in her testimony. “It’s a safety issue. It’s about what kind of learning environments we want for our children and how far we’re willing to go to protect and teach them.”
To read the full testimony submitted by The Trevor Project to the Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying hearing, click here.
