Good morning.  My name is Robert Uebel, and I live in Fargo.  I'm speaking today in support of Senate Bill 2216 as co-chair of Equality North Dakota, the statewide advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender North Dakotans.

Equality North Dakota firmly believes that all students deserve a safe school environment in which they are free from harassment, bullying and discrimination.  We are particularly concerned that such an environment does not yet exist for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth in North Dakota schools.  Far too often, verbal and physical harassment are part of the daily school life of GLBT youth in our state.

There is now extensive evidence that GLBT students are disproportionately targeted for harassment and discrimination in our nation's schools.  The 2001 National School Climate Survey indicated that over 80% of GLBT students reported being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation; nearly 70% reported feeling unsafe in school.  Studies also indicate that school officials often fail to respond to or, in some cases, even participate in the discrimination and harassment.

The climate of fear created may result in increased absenteeism, decreased academic performance and increased risk of suicide.  The National School Climate Survey also found that over 30% of GLBT students had missed at least one entire day of school in the past month because they felt unsafe.

Without a policy that explicitly includes sexual orientation as protected categories, many school officials do not respond appropriately to anti-GLBT harassment and discrimination.  Or it may be the case that they do not feel comfortable and supported in responding to harassment of GLBT students.  It is conduct - failing to act or failing to act in a reasonable manner - that opens up school districts to liability, not the adoption of an anti-harassment policy.

No detailed statistics are available for GLBT students in North Dakota, because student surveys have not included questions regarding sexual orientation.  This fact alone shows that the concerns of GLBT youth in North Dakota are not being addressed by our state's schools.  Furthermore, North Dakota is the only state in the country without a single high school gay-straight student alliance.

The unsupportive attitudes many GLBT youth encounter in school only serve to further paint North Dakota as a state which is unwelcoming to those who are perceived as "different."  Is it any wonder that GLBT youth often see no future for themselves in North Dakota and leave the state in droves?  At a time when many in our state are looking for ways to keep our young people here, we need to send the message in our schools that all students are worthy of our full respect.  Thank you.