Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the Student Non-Discrimination Act would extend the same Federal civil rights protections available to other children to LGBT children. I feel very strongly about this, and let me tell you why. LGBT kids are facing an epidemic of bullying in our schools. Nearly 75 percent of LGBT students say they have been verbally harassed at school. More than 30 percent report missing a day of school in the last month because they felt unsafe. Sometimes kids cannot endure the taunting. These boys, 11 years old, 13, and 15, committed suicide because they were harassed relentlessly, and they are just three of the many tragic cases. And in case after case, the parents begged the school to do something, only to be ignored. Our laws failed these children, but we can change that. We have come very far on this issue. As a body, we passed ENDA, which protects LGBT adults, but this is about children. It is our job as adults, not just as Senators, to protect children. Think about the LGBT people you know--your friends, staff, family. Now imagine them as children just beginning to discover who they are but doing so in the face of taunts and intimidation. You cannot get a good education if you dread going to school. My amendment just says that schools would have to listen when a parent says ``My kid isn't safe'' and then do something about it. I thank the chairman and the ranking member for committing to hold this vote. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote to protect our children.…”