Equality Virginia [[link removed]]
Dear Friend,
Equality Virginia has been working tirelessly this legislative session to ensure the passage of two bills that will be transformative for positive school climates in the state:
*
H.B.
536,
which
will
adjust
the
definition
of
"bullying"
in
K-12
schools
to
explicitly
protect
against
harassment
on
the
basis
of
characteristics
listed
in
the
Virginia
Human
Rights
Act,
which
includes
sexual
orientation
and
gender
identity.
*
H.B.
224,
which
would
require
school
professionals
in
Virginia
to
receive
mental
health
awareness
training
that
addresses
the
needs
of
youth
populations
that
are
at
a
high
risk
of
experiencing
suicidal
ideation
and
other
mental
health
challenges,
which
include
LGBTQI+
youth.
Decades of research and practice demonstrate that enumerating protected classes in anti-bullying policies improves school climates by raising awareness that students can report bullying and holding school staff and administrators accountable for fostering inclusive spaces. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds in the United States, and we know that LGBTQ+ young people are significantly more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
After powerful testimony from students, educators, and legislative champions, the bills made it through the General Assembly and Senate and to Governor Youngkin. Minutes before his deadline to act on the bills, Governor Youngkin sent them back to the legislature, striking the important provisions referencing LGBTQI+ students and other populations at high risk of bullying, harrassment, and suicide, for more vague and generic language. The Governor's proposed amendments undermine the core intent of the bills - to enumerate protections in anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies.
On Wednesday, the Virginia legislature reconvened to consider Gov. Youngkin’s amendments, and rejected them unanimously. They now return to Gov. Youngkin, and he has 30 days to sign, veto, or do nothing with the bills – which allows them to automatically go into effect. To prevent a veto, we need YOU as a Virginian to take the following actions and urge Gov. Youngkin to do what is right for LGBTQI+ students in Virginia’s schools:
1.
SEND
AN
EMAIL
[[link removed]]
to
Gov.
Youngkin
via
this
Action
Alert!
2.
SIGN
ON
[[link removed]]
to
this
petition
which
will
be
delivered
to
Gov.
Youngkin
in
the
coming
weeks!

With gratitude,

Narissa Rahaman
Executive Director
Equality Virginia
P.S.- Will you click the button below and donate $20 to keep our work going over the next 30 days before the Governor's deadline?



DONATE [[link removed]]
Equality Virginia
530 East Main Street
Suite 600
Richmond, VA 23219
United States
equalityvirginia.org [[link removed]] | [email protected] [[email protected]]
Paid for by Equality Virginia
This email was sent to [email protected] . If you wish to no longer receive these messages, please unsubscribe. [[link removed]]