Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in support of Spirit Day, a day designated to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth:  

“Please join me today in going purple to express support for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth community on this Fourth Annual Spirit Day.  Established in 2010, Spirit Day has become a nationally observed day of support for LGBT youth and demonstrates our commitment to taking a stand against bullying.
 
“Eight out of 10 LGBT youth report being bullied, a phenomenon that is undoubtedly made worse by our society’s reliance on electronic technology.   Studies demonstrate a direct link between harassment and bullying of LGBT youth and high rates of absenteeism, academic underachievement and adverse health consequences.  Even more tragic, when left unaddressed, such harassment has led to dangerous circumstances for teens including the suicide deaths of four gay teenagers within the span of only several weeks in 2010.  These statistics are both alarming and disheartening.  There is no place for intolerance and discrimination in our nation’s schools and workplaces.
 
“I have long fought to end discrimination against LGBT individuals as it is my strong belief that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and live free from fear of discrimination and harm, particularly our nation’s youth.  I proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Safe Schools Improvement Act, which requires schools across the country to institute policies that ban bullying and ensure that all students are protected from targeted harassment based on their race, gender, real or perceived sexual orientation, and any other basis, and a member of the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus.  I applaud all of the teachers, workplaces, celebrities, media outlets and students across the country who have chosen to participate in going purple today on social media or by wearing purple, a color that symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag.  It is endeavors like these that help to ensure that violence and harassment in our schools will one day be a relic of the past.
 
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.

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