BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 44
Author: Ammiano (D), et al.
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 4/11/13
SUBJECT : National Day of Silence: discrimination against
lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender students
SOURCE : Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
DIGEST : This resolution declares the third Friday of every
April as the National Day of Silence; and, encourages school
districts in the state to enforce laws and policies that
prohibit name calling, bullying, harassment, and discrimination
against all students, teachers, and other school staff
regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity or
expression.
ANALYSIS :
This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1.The National Day of Silence is a day in which students take a
vow of silence to bring attention to the antilesbian, antigay,
antibisexual, and antitransgender name calling, bullying, and
harassment faced by individuals in schools.
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2.In past years, hundreds of thousands of students at more than
8,000 schools have participated in the National Day of
Silence; and, nearly 82% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender students reported being verbally harassed by their
peers at school for their sexual orientation, and more than
60% because of their gender expression.
3.Physical harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
students is more than 38%; and, 27% because of gender
expression. Physical assault by their peers is reported to be
over 18% for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and more
than 12% because of gender expression.
4.Student academic performance is affected such that lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender students who experience high
levels of verbal harassment because of their sexual
orientation or gender expression report a grade point average
nearly one-half grade lower than those who have experienced
low levels of harassment. The presence of supportive staff
contributed to a range of positive indicators including fewer
reports of missing school, fewer reports of feeling un,
greater academic achievement, higher educational aspirations,
and a greater sense of school belonging.
This resolution declares the third Friday of every April as the
National Day of Silence; and, encourages school districts in the
state to enforce laws and policies that prohibit name calling,
bullying, harassment, and discrimination against all students,
teachers, and other school staff regardless of their sexual
orientation and gender identity or expression.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/30/13)
Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (source)
PQ:nl 4/30/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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