Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) re-introduced a resolution to highlight the National Day of Silence, a day in which students from around the country take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) name-calling, bullying and harassment faced in schools by students, teachers and other school staff.

The Day of Silence, coordinated nationally by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), will be on April 17, 2009 this year. Over 500,000 students from nearly 6,500 junior high and high schools in all 50 states and Puerto Rico have participated over the years.

“Sadly, violence and discrimination against LGBT youth is all-too-common in American schools. It is a national disgrace that students feel threatened in school simply because of their sexual orientation,” said Rep. Engel. “As a former public school teacher, I am proud to introduce this resolution. Americans need to know that thousands of children each day go to school deprived of a happy adolescence because of the insensitivity and cruelty shown by some fellow students, teachers, staff and parents.”

“Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students continue to face pervasive harassment and victimization in schools. As students use their silence to demand safe schools, we in Congress must use our voices to support them,” said Congresswoman Baldwin.

According to statistics provided by GLSEN:

* More than 85 percent of LGBT students have been verbally harassed;
* Nearly 20 percent of LGBT students were physically assaulted by their peers at school;
* Almost 40 percent of LGBT students reported that faculty and staff never intervene when homophobic language is used in their presence;
* Nearly 30 percent of LGBT students reported missing at least one entire school day because they felt unsafe.

“It is tragic to have any child suffer and what makes this worse is that it is completely preventable. Bullying and harassment of LGBT students stems from ignorance and can only be repaired with education. By helping other students, teachers, staff and parents understand the plight of LGBT students, we can help these students live a happier childhood and enable them to earn their education free from fear,” added Rep. Engel.