Bill Text: NY K00464 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 12, 2019, as a Day of Silence in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-30 - adopted [K00464 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00464-Introduced.html

Assembly Resolution No. 464

BY: M. of A. Bronson

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        April  12, 2019, as a Day of Silence in the State of
        New York

  WHEREAS, The Day of Silence is a day on which students take a vow to
remain silent for a  full  day  in  order  to  bring  attention  to  the
harassment  and  discrimination  faced  by  lesbian,  gay, bisexual, and
transgender people in schools, including students, teachers,  and  other
school staff; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Day  of Silence has been held annually since April of
1996; and

  WHEREAS, The  Gay,  Lesbian,  and  Straight  Education  Network  has
designated April 12, 2019, as the Day of Silence; and

  WHEREAS,  More  than  80  percent  of  lesbian,  gay,  bisexual, and
transgender students have been verbally harassed by their peers  because
of their sexual orientation and gender identity; and

  WHEREAS,  More  than  40  percent  of  lesbian,  gay,  bisexual, and
transgender students have  been  physically  assaulted  by  their  peers
because of their sexual orientation and gender identity; and

  WHEREAS,  More  than  80  percent  of  lesbian,  gay,  bisexual, and
transgender students report that  faculty  and  staff  rarely  or  never
intervene   when   harassment   against   lesbian,  gay,  bisexual,  and
transgender individuals occurs; and

  WHEREAS, More  than  30  percent  of  lesbian,  gay,  bisexual,  and
transgender  students  report  missing at least one entire school day in
the last month because they feel unsafe; and

  WHEREAS, Unchecked harassment and  discrimination  based  on  sexual
orientation  and  gender  identity  or  expression  can  hinder  student
achievement and have a negative impact on student academic  performance;
and

  WHEREAS,  Every  child,  regardless  of sexual orientation or gender
identity, should be guaranteed an education free from discrimination and
harassment; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body supports the goals and ideals of  the
Day of Silence; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 12,  2019,  as  a
Day of Silence in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York.
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