New York, GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, stands with a broad coalition of LGBT and youth development organizations in celebrating today’s reintroduction of the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) joined lead cosponsor Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and 17 total cosponsors to introduce for the first time a Senate bill with bipartisan support that specifically addresses bullying and harassment due to actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Safe Schools Improvement Act, which is endorsed by the over 80 members of the GLSEN-led National Safe Schools Partnership, would require schools to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that address bullying and harassment and ensure the safety and well-being of all their students. In the last Congress, the Senate and House versions finished the Congress with, respectively, 17 and 131 bipartisan cosponsors. A bipartisan House bill is also expected to be introduced in the coming weeks by Rep. Linda Sanchez.
