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Statement of Equality Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG – On October 11, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people everywhere will celebrate National Coming Out Day.  On that day, many of us reflect on who we are and proudly share our lives with the people we know and meet.

But this year, it is hard to imagine a National Coming Out Day with a more somber prelude.  Coming on the heels of a September that saw the suicides of five students from across the country, all largely due to the pain caused by anti-gay bullying and harassment, we at Equality Pennsylvania simply want to know what will move lawmakers to take this issue seriously and enact a law with teeth?

Tyler Clementi…Raymond Chase…Seth Walsh…Asher Brown…Billy Lucas.  None of them a Pennsylvania resident or student or quite honestly, someone most of us knew.  But how many students just like them suffer in silence throughout the numerous schools in Pennsylvania?  It is not a stretch to think that any of these five could stand-in for one of the many young people we teach, parent, mentor, befriend, share a classroom with and care about each and every day right here.

The facts are there.  They are real and they are frightening:

The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) found in their 2009 National School Climate Survey that nearly nine in 10 LGBT middle- and high-school students experienced bullying based on their sexual orientation in the past year.

Campus Pride found in their 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People that 23 percent of LGB staff, faculty, and students experience harassment based on their sexual identity and 39 percent of transgender staff, faculty, and students experienced harassment based on their gender identity/expression.

According to The US Department of Education, with nearly one-third of all school children between the sixth and tenth grades – regardless of their sexual orientation – affected by bullying, study after study has shown that the impacts of such bullying and harassment have long-term consequences.  Decreased concentration in the classroom, increased absenteeism, and lower student achievement are just a few of the symptoms of bullying and harassment.

And the most damning statistic of all,

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (Massachusetts Youth Risk Survey 2007).

This has to change.

We understand that the problems and concerns faced by our legislators are great and confusing.  They have difficult jobs.  That we get.  So to the elected officials who have faced this issue, we express our gratitude.  To US Senator Robert Casey, we are grateful for your recent introduction of a Senate version of Congresswoman Linda Sanchez’s Safe Schools Improvement Act.  This legislation would require schools and districts receiving designated federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including conduct based on a student’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion.  This is a great thing.

The same goes for State Representative Rick Taylor (D-Montgomery) who has introduced similar legislation in the House of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and been a tireless fighter for this simple issue of safety and human compassion.  Both these leaders are working to help enable our children to learn in environments free of bigotry and intolerance and that is truly commendable.

And we cannot forget those that make-up our Student Network Across Pennsylvania (SNAP), the entirely youth-led coalition of over 40 collegiate LGBT organizations, who continue to bring awareness to this serious issue with their actions and words.  In the end, they will be the ones who will bring about real change in attitudes and actions.

So as we face a more solemn National Coming Out Day, we remember those unfortunate few who felt so helpless that their only choice was to end their lives.  Equality Pennsylvania shares the sorrow of their families and loved ones, calls on all elected officials and law enforcement agencies to act swiftly to strengthen and uphold the law, and asks every reader of this statement to celebrate National Coming Out Day with joy, reverence for those lost and a new commitment to make every young LGBT person’s life safe and glorious and complete.

The mission of Equality Pennsylvania is to be the preeminent LGBT advocacy organization for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and work collaboratively to establish a comprehensive network of individuals and organizations united in securing equal rights for the LGBT community (www.equalitypa.org).