Catholics for Equality

Support the Safe Schools Improvement Act!

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The Problem

Bullying and harassment of students who are, or are perceived to be, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) is widespread. While current federal law provides important support to promote school safety, it does not comprehensively and expressly focus on issues of bullying or harassment, and in no way addresses the unique challenges faced by LGBT youth. Studies have shown that bullying and harassment of LGBT youth in schools contributes to high rates of absenteeism, dropout, adverse health consequences and academic underachievement. When left unchecked, such bullying and harassment can lead to, and has led to, life-threatening violence and suicide. LGBT students, like all other students, deserve a healthy school environment.

The Solution

The Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to require schools and districts receiving federal funds to adopt codes of conduct specifically prohibiting bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The SSIA would also require that states report data on bullying and harassment to the Department of Education. Additionally, the SSIA would require the Department of Education to provide Congress with a report on the state reported data, along with other specified data, every two years.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your Members of Congress!

Catholic Support

Catholics accept people as they are. 69% of U.S. Catholics believe that homosexuality cannot be changed. Public Religion Research Institute, 2011.
73% of U.S. Catholics favor laws to protect gays and lesbians in the workplace. Public Religion Research Institute, 2011.

Catholic Talking Points

Catholic social teaching regarding the dignity of each person instills respect for all people.
Catholics are called to defend the marginalized and oppressed of society.
The Safe Schools Improvement Act includes broad religious exemptions and does not apply to our church, nor any of our privately funded church organizations, schools, and programs.

Catholic Social Teaching and Scripture

Homosexual persons "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided." – Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2358.
"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." – Luke 10:27 (New American Bible)

Catholic Constituent Faces of SSIA

Tell us how this issue affects you and your family!

In-District Lobbying Materials

The Catholics for Equality Policy Team encourages you to organize pro-equality Catholic in-district lobbying visits with your Members of Congress when they're back home campaigning and meeting with constituents. This is a great opportunity to show your Members of Congress that this issue affects the people they represent, and for you to help them provide talking points for their support. To help you with your meetings, the Catholics for Equality Policy Team has created dowloadable and printable legislative fact sheets on issues being addressed in Congress.

Download the Catholics for Equality SSIA Legislative Fact Sheet (requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Download the ZIP file of all Catholics for Equality Legislative Fact Sheets