Res. No. 387 Title Resolution urging the State Legislature and the Governor to support A.2634/ S.1628, the Dignity for All Students Act, and urging the Office of the Mayor and the New York City Board of Education to take said comprehensive action to address the needs and protect the rights of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT), who come from families with LGBT members, or who are perceived as LGBT by their peers. Body By Council Members Quinn, Moskowitz, Gerson, Lopez, Reed, Yassky, Brewer, Jackson and Perkins; also Council Members Koppell and Serrano Whereas, The City's Human Rights law prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender (including gender identity and expression); and Whereas, The City of New York supports Chancellor's Regulation A-831 regarding student-to-student sexual harassment and Regulation A-443 (and the relevant Discipline Code) governing the intervention and disciplinary procedures for all students; and Whereas, The New York City Board of Education supports passage of the Dignity for All Students Act (A.2634 / S.1628), a State bill that would protect all public school students from discrimination and harassment; and Whereas, The Board of Education has, despite the above aforementioned measures and stated support, not fulfilled its obligation of equal access to education in a safe environment for all, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, families and personnel; and Whereas, Students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), who come from families with LGBT members, or who are perceived as LGBT by their peers continue to be subjected to harassment in schools, including threats of violence and violent attack; and Whereas, Research has indicated that training teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators, establishing school-based support programs (including "safepersons" and student-led, adult-advised Gay/Straight Alliances), and assessing the health risks and needs of this population through appropriate, local assessment tools are all components of effective support and risk prevention; and Whereas, Initiating written communication with district and school leadership on the importance of LGBT issues and enforcing anti-discrimination policies, assessing, modifying, and publicizing harassment reporting procedures, and appointing a staff person to be a liaison on LGBT youth issues will further assist students in obtaining equal access to education; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York strongly urges the State Legislature and the Governor to support A.2634/ S.1628, the Dignity for All Students Act; and, be it further Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the Office of the Mayor and the New York City Board of Education to take said comprehensive action to address the needs and protect the rights of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT), who come from families with LGBT members, or who are perceived as LGBT by their peers. TR 5/31/02 |10
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