TTPC

The Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition (TTPC) urges all Tennesseans to contact our Senior United States Senator, Lamar Alexander, immediately.  Senator Alexander is a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) which is taking up the issue of Education Reform this week.  Ironically, tomorrow is the Annual Spirit Day in which people are asked to wear purple to show concern for bullying and harassment in schools.

The Committee is likely to be taking up the Student Non-Discriminination Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act as amendments.

The Student Non-Discrimination Act establishes sexual orientation and gender identity in schools as protected classes. The bill prohibits school activities receiving federal financial assistance from discriminating against LGBT students. Discrimination also includes harassment of a student.

The Safe Schools Improvement Act would require schools receiving federal funds to adopt codes of conduct that prohibit bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The legislation would also require states to report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education.

The ongoing bullying and harassment of youth, including the recent incident in Monroe County that has received national attention, illustrates why federal action is necessary and appropriate.

Please contact Senator Alexander today at:

Phone: (202) 224-4944
Fax:(202) 228-3398
http://alexander.senate.gov

and urge Senator Alexander to support these amendments in committee and on the floor.