As we were reminded this year with the brutal murder of Lawrence King, there's a lot of work to do to make sure that schools across the United States are a safe space for gay youth and their allies.  The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is calling on schools to remember Lawrence King by acting on an opportunity to address violence and harassment directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.

U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) has introduced the Safe Schools Improvement Act (H. R. 3132), which would promote bullying prevention efforts in schools across America. H. R. 3132 is vital to protecting America’s students in schools, but the bill needs more cosponsors in the House.

The Senate has included similar language to address bullying and harassment in the draft of No Child Left Behind reauthorization, sponsored by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo). Senators, especially those on the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, should support maintaining the language that will strengthen state and local efforts to prevent bullying and harassment through the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act.

Though we await the start of the 111th Congress, you can pledge to read up on the Safe Schools Improvement Act, and then contact your Congressperson during the 111th Congress and urge them to take action for safe schools.

To read about the Safe Schools Improvement Act, go to:
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h3132/text