A Letter from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren: Bullying Prevention Month Is a Time for Taking Action

No one should face discrimination or bullying because of who they are or who they love. Our country must be a place where everyone can live—and love—free from fear of harassment in their homes, schools, workplaces, and online.

October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. This is a time for us to focus on how we can ensure that every person is treated with respect in their day-to-day lives and on how we can build more welcoming communities. That’s why I’m proud to stand with the Tyler Clementi Foundation, which is doing essential work to combat bullying and to promote inclusion.

One of my favorite traditions in Massachusetts is the annual Pride Parade in Boston. This parade is an institution in our city, and it’s an incredible celebration. When I go, I don’t march — I dance. I dance with people from all different backgrounds: Young and old. Black, white, Latino, Asian. Gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, and queer.

Pride celebrates our diversity and it reflects our best selves, when we turn toward each other and embrace each other. For the past several years I’ve danced in the parade with a terrific group of young people from the Boston Alliance of Gay Lesbian Bisexual & Transgender Youth (BAGLY) who are working to support and empower members of the Boston LGBTQ youth community.

This is powerfully important work, because far too many young people across the country continue to face bullying from their peers that affects their health, safety, and well-being. Meanwhile, our recent public discourse has been punctuated by verbal attacks and bigotry directed at immigrants, Muslims, women, people with disabilities, and people of color. As a result, we’ve seen troubling reports of a rise in bullying and harassment in our schools over recent months.

This is wrong—and we all have an obligation to push back. As a senator, one of the ways I’m working to do this is by supporting the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, which requires colleges and universities to take action to address harassment. I’m also pushing for Congress to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act to help strengthen policies against bullying in K-12 schools.

I’m committed to doing my part to fight for this legislation, but if we’re going to pass these bills we also need people around the country to make their voices heard. I encourage you to call or email your representatives today to let them know that you support these bills. It’s also critical that people take action within their schools and organizations to promote acceptance and to raise awareness about bullying and harassment.

Harassment and bullying is not who we are as a people. These are not our values. As we mark Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, we can use this moment to recommit to building a country where every person feels safe in their community and the dignity of each individual is respected.

---

Elizabeth Warren was elected to the United States Senate on November 6, 2012, by the people of Massachusetts. Learn more about Sen. Warren here. She is also available on Twitter or Facebook.

---

The views or experiences expressed are solely those of the contributor or interview subject and do not represent the views of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, its staff or board. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material, please contact the Tyler Clementi Foundation, and we appreciate your support and commitment to end bullying starting on #Day1.