[Pages S2529-S2530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 168--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF THE RISE UP 
     FOR LGBTQI+ YOUTH IN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE, A CALL TO ACTION TO 
   COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO DEMAND EQUAL EDUCATIONAL 
 OPPORTUNITY, BASIC CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS, AND FREEDOM FROM ERASURE 
  FOR ALL STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY LGBTQI+ YOUNG PEOPLE, IN K-12 SCHOOLS

  Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
Booker, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Warren, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Wyden) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 168

       Whereas young people, teachers, school staff, families, and 
     communities must be free from transphobia, homophobia, 
     racism, sexism, and ableism in K-12 schools;
       Whereas K-12 schools must be safe and inclusive learning 
     environments that include and affirm LGBTQI+ young people, 
     especially those who are transgender, nonbinary, intersex, 
     Black, Indigenous, people of color, and people with 
     disabilities and those who

[[Page S2530]]

     are from communities that experience marginalization;
       Whereas, for more than 2 decades, Congress has supported a 
     resolution for a National Day of Silence, and, for a decade, 
     Congress has supported a resolution for No Name-Calling Week;
       Whereas advocates have designated 2025 to 2026 as a time 
     for communities to support the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in 
     Schools Initiative in support of LGBTQI+ young people in 
     schools by building on the goals of National Day of (No) 
     Silence and No Name-Calling Week to create a sustained call 
     to action to demand equal educational opportunities, basic 
     civil rights protections, and freedom from erasure for all 
     students;
       Whereas LGBTQI+ young people frequently experience bias-
     based bullying and harassment, discrimination, and punitive 
     discipline that increases the likelihood they will enter the 
     school-to-prison pipeline;
       Whereas over 200 anti-LGBTQI+ education bills have been 
     introduced each year in State legislatures across the United 
     States, the majority of which specifically target transgender 
     and nonbinary young people, including--
       (1) in the 26 States that have enacted policies between 
     2021 and 2025 that prohibit transgender students from playing 
     alongside their peers on school sports teams; and
       (2) in the 17 States that have enacted laws between 2021 
     and 2025 that prevent transgender students from using the 
     school bathroom or locker room that corresponds with their 
     gender identity;
       Whereas the GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey found 
     that LGBTQI+ students who experienced discrimination on the 
     basis of their LGBTQI+ identity at school in the past year, 
     including being prevented from using the restroom that 
     aligned with their gender identity and being barred from 
     playing on the school sports team that aligned with their 
     gender identity, were nearly 3 times as likely to have missed 
     school in the past month, had lower grade point averages, 
     reported lower feelings of school belonging, and had higher 
     levels of depression compared to LGBTQI+ students who had not 
     experienced similar discrimination;
       Whereas LGBTQI+ young people are more likely than their 
     non-LGBTQI+ peers to experience mental health concerns, 
     including stress, anxiety, and depression;
       Whereas nearly half of LGBTQI+ young people seriously 
     considered suicide in the last year, a trend that increases 
     among Indigenous, Black, and multiracial LGBTQI+ young 
     people;
       Whereas the GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey found 
     that, among LGBTQI+ students who said that they were 
     considering dropping out of school, 31.4 percent indicated 
     that they were doing so because of the hostile climate 
     created by gendered school policies and practices;
       Whereas States have passed or attempted to pass legislation 
     that erases or censors LGBTQI+ individuals, history, and 
     contributions from classroom literature and curricula, 
     including--
       (1) in the 9 States that enacted laws between 2022 and 2025 
     censoring instruction related to LGBTQI+ people; and
       (2) in the 8 States that enacted laws between 2021 and 2025 
     that treat instruction related to LGBTQI+ individuals in 
     history, science, the arts, or any academic class as a 
     sensitive topic that requires parental notification and 
     allows parents to opt their child out of such instruction;
       Whereas these laws harm students and force families to 
     consider leaving their homes, as demonstrated in a Williams 
     Institute report, which found that 56 percent of LGBTQI+ 
     parents of students in the State of Florida considered moving 
     out of the State, and 16.5 percent have taken steps to move 
     out of State because of the passage of the Parental Rights in 
     Education Act by the State in 2022;
       Whereas States have gone farther by specifically targeting 
     transgender students and their families with policies that 
     attack mental health counseling and gender-affirming care for 
     transgender students, including the introduction of at least 
     35 bills in 18 States since the beginning of the 2025 
     legislative session that prohibit or create barriers to the 
     social affirmation of transgender and nonbinary students in 
     schools, such as using the chosen name and pronouns of a 
     student, regardless of the risk to the safety, health, and 
     well-being of the student;
       Whereas 86 percent of transgender and nonbinary young 
     people say that recent debates prompted by State legislation 
     restricting the rights of transgender individuals have 
     negatively impacted their mental health;
       Whereas data provided by the Department of Justice shows 
     that there were a reported 247 anti-LGBTQ hate crimes in 
     schools in 2023;
       Whereas every young person must have equal educational 
     opportunity and freedom from the fear that their basic civil 
     and educational rights will be taken away from them;
       Whereas young people who develop in positive school 
     climates, free from bullying, harassment, and discrimination, 
     report greater physical and psychological safety, greater 
     mental well-being, and improved educational and life 
     outcomes;
       Whereas positive school transformation must recognize that 
     safety is too low of a bar and that all communities deserve 
     to be acknowledged and affirmed in schools;
       Whereas students and families, educators, and community 
     members in every State and territory are advocating for safe 
     and inclusive learning environments that affirm LGBTQI+ young 
     people, particularly those who are transgender, nonbinary, 
     intersex, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and people with 
     disabilities;
       Whereas affirming policies such as enumerated anti-bullying 
     protections, gender neutral dress code guidelines, and 
     inclusive learning practices are proven strategies to address 
     hostile learning environments for all students; and
       Whereas we must all demand the best possible future for all 
     young people in schools, particularly those who identify as 
     LGBTQI+, without exception: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of the Rise Up for 
     LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative in demanding the best 
     possible future for all young people in schools, particularly 
     those who identify as LGBTQI+;
       (2) recognizes the contributions of students and families, 
     educators, and community members who participate in the 
     National Day of (No) Silence, to draw attention to the 
     bullying, harassment, assault, and discrimination faced by 
     LGBTQI+ students; and
       (3) encourages each State, territory, and locality to 
     support the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative 
     and adopt laws and policies that prohibit bias-based 
     victimization, exclusion, and erasure.

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