A group of students from El Cuarto Ano Association House Alternative High School took care of business on Wednesday, meeting with Congressman Danny Davis, and asking him to become a co-sponsor of HR 998, the Student Non-Discrimination Act. The students, members of the school's GSA, discussed the importance of the legislation which would help end bullying and anti-lgbt discrimination in schools across the nation as well as their own experiences witnessing and being the victims of bullying.
Congressman Davis was particularly impressed by the book and survey the students presented to him - the results of their research into student's perceptions of their own safety at school. The school climate survey revealed that El Cuarto Ano, which has strong anti-bullying policies and a supportive staff and administration made the school environment feel much safer to students of all sexual orientations, in sharp contrast to the results of national school climate surveys taken by GLSEN.
In response to the student's request (and in keeping with his own strong record on supporting LGBT Rights) Congressman Davis agreed to co-sponsor the Student Non-Discrimination Act, and called his legislative director from the meeting to ask her to arrange it.
The ACLU of Illinois was so proud to have the opportunity to work with these amazing students. The El Cuarto Ano GSA is filled with strong, opinionated leaders who took a stand to help students around the country experience a safe, positive learning environment like the one at ECA. Congratulations to them, and many thanks to Congressman Davis for his continues support of LGBT individuals in Illinois and around the nation.
