Vigils Around The Country to Honor Slain Gay Teen Lawrence King

Feb 12th marks two years since the tragic murder of 15 year old Lawrence King due to his sexual orientation and gender expression. Lawrence King was an innocent victim of queerphobia, murdered simply because he asked a fellow classmate to be his valentine. We must never forget Lawrence King and the countless others murdered due to hate, and we must continue to fight for a comprehensive hate crimes legislation in every locale and an end to state-sanctioned homophobia/transphobia.

Minnesota

End the Violence
Blaine, Minnesota
Friday, February 12, 2010
11:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m
Location: Blaine High School
Co-Sponsored By: Blaine High School Gay Straight Alliance
Virginia

Virginia

"I Love Larry"
Arlington, Virginia
Friday, February 12, 2010
All Day
Location: Wakefield High School
Co-Sponsored By: The Wakefield High School Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Questions: jclisham@arlington.k12.va.us 703-228-6711

To add a vigil or learn more goto http://www.rememberinglawrence.org/

Congresswoman Lois Capps Introduces Legislation to Honor Lawrence King

Congresswoman Lois Capps representing California's 23rd district has honored brutally murdered Lawrence King's legacy. She has also introduced legislation to recognize him and a call for an end to violence and harassment of LGBT people.

"Honoring and remembering the life of Lawrence “Larry” King.

Whereas Larry King was a 15-year-old boy from Oxnard, California, who was shot by a fellow student during computer class on February 12, 2008 and died in the hospital two days later;

Whereas the police classified the murder as a hate crime;

Whereas at least 179 vigils have been held in all fifty states in memory of Lawrence King since his death on February 14, 2008;

Whereas a record number of more than 18,000 students from a record number of more than 6,500 middle and high schools registered as participants in the 12th annual National Day of Silence, which was held in memory of Lawrence King, to bring attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender name-calling, bullying and harassment;

Whereas one year after an act of hate in Oxnard, CA, vigils are being organized across the country in memory of Lawrence King, calling for an end to violence and harassment directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in schools;

Whereas more than 85 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students report being verbally harassed at school by their peers because of their sexual orientation; and more than 66 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas more than 40 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students report being physically harassed by their peers because of their sexual orientation; and more than 30 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas more than 20 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students report being physically assaulted by their peers at school because of their sexual orientation; and nearly 15 percent because of their gender expression;

Whereas every child should be guaranteed an education free from name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination regardless of his or her sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring) –

That Congress honors the life and remembers and condemns the murder of Lawrence King;

encourages efforts to address anti-lesbian, -gay, -bisexual and -transgender name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination on school campuses;

encourages trainings to enable school staff to identify and address anti-lesbian, -gay, -bisexual and -transgender name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination effectively and in a timely manner;

encourages the implementation of age-appropriate, inclusive curricula to help students understand and respect difference within the school community and society as a whole;

encourages each State, city, and local education authority to adopt laws and policies to prohibit name-calling, bullying, harassment and discrimination against students, teachers and other school staff regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression" (Congresswoman Lois Capps).

Please take this opportunity to thank the congresswoman for championing equality.

http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtml

Washington, D.C.
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3601
Fax: (202) 225-5632

Start Prepping: Day of Silence

Hey folks,

The Day of Silence is vastly approaching and will be held April 25, 2008.

The organization responsible for this annual event is GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) and here is their write up on the event.

"The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year’s event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Hundreds of thousands of students will come together on April 25 to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior."

Whether you are a student, a faculty member or just a concerned citizen please see how you can get involved in this important day that has shaped and changed the lives of many Queer and straight allied students around the country.

Order your t-shirts, print out your silent cards, and see what you can do to be active on behalf of GLBT equality.

http://www.dayofsilence.org/