Senator Gillibrand working for Safe Schools

On October 7, 2010, the office of Senator Gillibrand and Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson, Inc. will be co-hosting a roundtable to increase awareness and provide resources for students, parents and teachers about the LGBTQ community and the bullying of LGBTQ students in our schools. Today, LGBT youth are bullied two to three times more often than their heterosexual peers. This harassment deprives students of equal educational opportunities by increasing their likelihood of skipping school, underachieving and dropping out. It is also detrimental to their mental and physical health. As a mother of two young children, Senator Gillibrand understands the importance of giving our youth every opportunity to succeed in life and, as such, she has sponsored the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools. She believes it is vital that we work together to protect our students and ensure a safe and supportive learning environment. We welcome you to join us in our discussion.

Who: School administrators, parents and others who wish to learn more or participate in a discussion about the protection of LGBTQ students from violence and harassment in our schools

When: October 7, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Where: Skidmore College, Palamountain Hall, Gannett Auditorium, 815 North Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866\t\t

To R.S.V.P. or to find out more information, please contact Amy Pollard at (518) 431-0120 or amy_pollard@gillibrand.senate.gov.