Expresses support for the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, advocating for equal educational opportunities, civil rights protections, and freedom from discrimination for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ youth, in K-12 schools.
Mark Takano
Representative
CA-39
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative, which advocates for equal educational opportunities and civil rights protections for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ youth, in K-12 schools. It recognizes the negative impact of discriminatory legislation and the importance of safe, inclusive school environments. The resolution also acknowledges the efforts of students, families, educators, and community members involved in the National Day of (No) Silence. Finally, it urges states, territories, and localities to back the Rise Up for LGBTQI Youth in Schools Initiative and enact laws and policies that prevent victimization, exclusion, and erasure based on bias.
House Resolution Backs 'Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth' Initiative, Urging Safer and More Inclusive K-12 Schools
This resolution signals the House of Representatives' official support for the goals of the 'Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in Schools Initiative.' At its core, the initiative pushes for equal educational opportunities, basic civil rights protections, and an end to the erasure of LGBTQI+ students within K-12 schools across the country.
The Landscape: Why Now?
The resolution lays out a concerning backdrop, pointing to a wave of state-level actions impacting LGBTQI+ students. It cites specific examples, noting that between 2021 and 2025, 26 states banned transgender students from sports teams matching their gender identity, and 17 states restricted bathroom or locker room access. The text also highlights laws in 9 states censoring LGBTQI+-related instruction and 8 states requiring parental notification or opt-outs for such topics. It connects these policies to real-world harm, referencing data showing increased school absences, lower grades, higher depression rates, and alarming suicide consideration statistics among affected youth. The resolution even mentions a report indicating that over half of LGBTQI+ parents in Florida considered moving due to restrictive legislation, alongside rising anti-LGBTQ hate crimes reported in schools.
What This Resolution Actually Does (and Doesn't Do)
It's important to understand this is a resolution, not a law. It doesn't create new federal mandates, allocate funding, or force states to act. Instead, it serves as an official statement from the House. By passing this, the House formally expresses its support for the Rise Up initiative's aims. It also specifically acknowledges the efforts of students and communities involved in the National Day of (No) Silence, which highlights the discrimination faced by LGBTQI+ students. Crucially, the resolution urges states, territories, and local governments to get behind the initiative and implement their own laws and policies to prevent victimization, exclusion, and bias-based erasure in schools. Think of it as the House using its platform to spotlight the issue and encourage action at the state and local level, aiming for school environments where all students feel safe, supported, and able to learn.