Cory Booker: “I support the Student Non-Discrimination Act, a bill first introduced in the 111th Congress and reintroduced again now…”

“I support the Student Non-Discrimination Act, a bill first introduced in the 111th Congress and reintroduced again now in the 114th Congress. This bill represents a critical step forward in protecting the rights of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth to receive an education free from bullying and harassment on account of who they are and who they love. I thank Senator Franken for his leadership on this issue, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important civil rights legislation. Education is the cornerstone of our democracy. In order for our system of government to thrive we must promote the education of our citizenry. It is what allows voters to make informed decisions on who they think is best fit to serve as their Representative, Senator, or President. It is a critical element of public debate and the free flow of ideas and it is what drives our economy forward and makes our country strong. Given the importance of education, no student should be harassed in school. We must do all we can to make education accessible to all. We must ensure that schools are safe and welcoming to all children so that students can enter the classroom ready and able to learn. Bullying touches the lives of countless young people. Each school year, LGBT students in New Jersey, and across America, are harassed, bullied, and even assaulted based on their perceived or known status as LGBT.…”