According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every seven students are diagnosed with a mental or behavioral condition. In 2023, 40 percent of high school students reported often feeling sad or hopeless, and 20 percent reported that they contemplated suicide within the past year. This student mental health crisis is exacerbated for students who experience discrimination and harassment based on their actual or perceived sex, gender identity or expression. Nondiscrimination policies make schools safer and more supportive places for all by reducing stigmatization and protecting students from bullying and harassment. Additionally, they increase students’ abilities to connect, empathize, and collaborate with one another, which encourages students to respect their peers of a different background.
 
This is why we are introducing legislation that would create a clear statewide policy for all public schools to prohibit student discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression through anti-discrimination and harassment prevention and early intervention policies. As a result, this legislation would make our schools more supportive and equal-opportunity learning environments.
 
Every student deserves to learn in a safe space that is free from discrimination and harassment. Pennsylvania needs to do better to ensure no student suffers from discrimination in school and that every student receives inclusivity and support while learning and growing in their academic endeavors.
 
Please consider co-sponsoring this bill to move Pennsylvania forward to implement these safe environments for every student to learn, play, and grow while freely being themselves.

Previous Co-Sponsors: Guenst, Hohenstein,Smith-Wade-El, Takac, Khan, Hill-Evans, Madden, Borowski, Schlossberg, Sanchez, Sturla, Otten, Delloso, Briggs, Fiedler, Webster, T. Davis, McNeill, Boyd, Krajewski, Cerrato, Waxman and Green.