The Dignity Project (2008)

Nationally, 65 percent of teens have been harassed or assaulted during the past year because of their appearance or their perceived or actual gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, race, ethnicity, disability or religion. A New York City law passed in 2004 called the Dignity in All Schools Act (DASA) establishes strong anti-harassment policies in school. If implemented, this law would prohibit harassment, mandate training programs for school staff and create a mechanism for lodging complaints. DASA would make schools more accountable for preventing harassment and help students realize their full potential. Unfortunately, the Bloomberg administration refuses to enforce this law.. We need your help finding stories from young people who have faced harassment and bullying in their schools. Youth narratives are integral to put pressure on Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein to show them the danger of ignoring such an important law.