Call Your Senators and Help Build Safer Schools for All Students!

[Sue Null]

Earlier this week, two important pieces of legislation were introduced in the U.S. Senate that will help build safer schools for all students, including those who are perceived or identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). The first bill is the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA), introduced by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) and Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL). The second bill is the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), introduced by Senator Al Franken (D-MN). The proposed legislation works together to address bullying and harassment in schools nationwide. SSIA requires schools and districts receiving federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill also requires that states report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education and it would require the Department of Education to provide Congress with a report on the state reported data ever two years.     SNDA prohibits discrimination on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in schools receiving federal funding, including higher education. The bill recognizes bullying and harassment as discrimination, and it provides both for remedies against discrimination and incentives for schools to prevent it from happening in the first place.   In order to demonstrate strong support for these important bills, we need your help to make this happen by taking action today! Your voices matter and need to be heard by your Senators. Please be sure to take a few minutes and call your Senators to ask them to cosponsor the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) and the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA) to establish a comprehensive federal anti-bullying approach. To find out who your Senators are, please visit our action center and type in your zip code, You can also call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to be connected to your both of your senators’ offices.  When making calls say: Hi, my name is __________, and I am a member of PFLAG and a constituent of Senator ________. I am calling today to express my support of Senator Casey’s Safe Schools Improvement Act, and Senator Franken’s Student Non-Discrimination Act. Both bills will help create safer schools for all students by establishing effective anti-bullying and harassment policies in our nation’s schools. If Senator ______ has not yet co-sponsored this legislation, please have him contact Senator Casey and Senator Franken’s office to cosponsor these life saving bills. Share this Alert. Please forward this alert to your family and friends, so we can grow the number of powerful voices supporting safer schools for all students. Thank you for moving equality forward!

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[Sue Null]