III
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION S. RES. 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 protec-
tions, and freedom from erasure for all students, particularly LGBTQI+
young people, in K–12 schools.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
APRIL9, 2025
Mr. S
CHATZ(for himself, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr.
B
OOKER, Mr. PADILLA, Ms. WARREN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mr.
W
YDEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
RESOLUTION
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 protec-
tions, and freedom from erasure for all students, particu-
larly LGBTQI+ young people, in K–12 schools.
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,
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intersex, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and people
with disabilities and those who 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 dec-
ade, 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 Na-
tional Day of (No) Silence and No Name-Calling Week
to create a sustained call to action to demand equal edu-
cational 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 puni-
tive 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 be-
tween 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 cor-
responds with their gender identity;
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Whereas the GLSEN 2021 National School Climate Survey
found that LGBTQI+ students who experienced dis-
crimination 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 experi-
enced similar discrimination;
Whereas LGBTQI+ young people are more likely than their
non-LGBTQI+ peers to experience mental health con-
cerns, 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 per-
cent indicated that they were doing so because of the hos-
tile climate created by gendered school policies and prac-
tices;
Whereas States have passed or attempted to pass legislation
that erases or censors LGBTQI+ individuals, history,
and contributions from classroom literature and cur-
ricula, including—
(1) in the 9 States that enacted laws between 2022
and 2025 censoring instruction related to LGBTQI+
people; and
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(2) in the 8 States that enacted laws between 2021
and 2025 that treat instruction related to LGBTQI+ in-
dividuals in history, science, the arts, or any academic
class as a sensitive topic that requires parental notifica-
tion and allows parents to opt their child out of such in-
struction;
Whereas these laws harm students and force families to con-
sider 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 pas-
sage 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 bar-
riers to the social affirmation of transgender and non-
binary 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 peo-
ple say that recent debates prompted by State legislation
restricting the rights of transgender individuals have neg-
atively 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;
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Whereas every young person must have equal educational op-
portunity 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 cli-
mates, free from bullying, harassment, and discrimina-
tion, 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 de-
serve 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, peo-
ple of color, and people with disabilities;
Whereas affirming policies such as enumerated anti-bullying
protections, gender neutral dress code guidelines, and in-
clusive 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
(1) supports the goals and ideals of the Rise Up 2
for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative in de-3
manding the best possible future for all young peo-4
ple in schools, particularly those who identify as 5
LGBTQI+; 6
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(2) recognizes the contributions of students and 1
families, educators, and community members who 2
participate in the National Day of (No) Silence, to 3
draw attention to the bullying, harassment, assault, 4
and discrimination faced by LGBTQI+ students; 5
and 6
(3) encourages each State, territory, and local-7
ity to support the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in 8
Schools Initiative and adopt laws and policies that 9
prohibit bias-based victimization, exclusion, and era-10
sure. 11
Æ
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