Tonight, the 23 members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will begin confirmation hearings for President-Elect Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. These Senators need to hear from us right now.
With her family’s history of supporting anti-LGBTQ organizations and “school choice” initiatives that drain funds from public education, it is unclear how DeVos will help improve school climate for all students. As Secretary of Education, she would have the power to set priorities for the Department of Education. She may support the Office for Civil Rights in protecting the rights of trans students, or she could roll back the protections we have fought for and won over the past decade.
It is urgent that we let these 23 Senators know that they must ask DeVos these questions:
- Given her family’s recurring support for anti-LGBTQ organizations, how will she ensure that LGBTQ students are safe and affirmed in all schools?
- What is her plan to further protect the civil rights of students, especially those who are most at-risk, including students of color, students with disabilities, LGBTQ students, and English-language-learners? How will she ensure their academic and personal success?
- How will she work to improve school climate for all students?
Tweet these Senators to keep all students healthy, safe, and thriving:
1. Senator Alexander
2. Senator Enzi
3. Senator Burr
4. Senator Isakson
5. Senator Paul
6. Senator Collins
7. Senator Cassidy
8. Senator Young
9. Senator Hatch
10. Senator Roberts
11. Senator Murkowski
12. Senator Scott
13. Senator Murray
14. Senator Sanders
15. Senator Casey
16. Senator Franken
17. Senator Bennet
18. Senator Whitehouse
19. Senator Baldwin
20. Senator Murphy
21. Senator Warren
22. Senator Kaine
23. Senator Hassan
These tweets contain data from GLSEN's 2015 National School Climate Survey and state snapshots for the states these Senators represent.
