Jill Biden on Ending Bigotry and Fear in our Education System

by Michael Jones · 2009-06-03 08:20:00 UTC
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Jill Biden

Jill Biden, Second Lady (is that really what they call the Vice President's wife?), spoke at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) 2009 Respect Awards last night.  She's been a teacher for 28 years, and as she says, teaching will continue to be her life's work even now that she's one of the most powerful women in Washington.

Biden told the folks at GLSEN's gathering that adolescence can be challenging, even under the best of circumstances.  Here's her words:

Change is not easy, especially when it comes to ending bigotry and fear, but I am confident that together we will succeed. That is why I am proud to tell you that the Obama/Biden administration shares your commitment that every student has a safe school. Each child, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, deserves an education.

Now that's some good substance.  She also added, "How can we expect kids to learn when they are taunted by their classmates?  We know the horrible price of not confronting a hostile school climate, where bullying and harrassment can be daily occurrences."  Biden then went on to remember two suicdes that happened earlier this year by 11-year-olds in Massachusetts and Georgia, who killed themselves after persistent taunting and bullying at school because classmates thought they were gay.

Watch the full clip of Biden's speech at the event below.  She knocks it out of the park.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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