Executive Order  No. 325: Governor's commission on gay and lesbian youth

WHEREAS, this Administration is committed to protecting the physical, emotional, and psychological health and well-being of all young people in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in its 1989 "Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide", estimates that 30% of completed youth suicides annually are by gay and lesbian youth; and

WHEREAS, the same report states that suicide is the leading cause of death for gay and lesbian youth; and

WHEREAS, the 1989 Report estimates that 26% of young gays and lesbians are forced to leave home because of conflicts over their sexual identity and that gay and lesbian youth form a large component of the homeless youth population; and

WHEREAS, this Administration is committed to abolishing harassment, violence, and discrimination against young people because of their real or perceived sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, Massachusetts has been and continues to be in the forefront of the national movement to end discrimination and prejudice directed at gays and lesbians; and

WHEREAS, many of the problems facing gay and lesbian youth are within the purview of state government and can be corrected by promulgation of information, training and the implementation and diffusion of formal guidelines and state policy; and

WHEREAS, the health of the Commonwealth is served by strengthening the physical and emotional health of both individuals and their families;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, William F. Weld, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby create the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth and order as follows:

1. The Commission shall consist of at least sixteen (16) members who shall serve without compensation. The Governor shall designate the chair of the Commission. The membership of the Commission shall include at least one parent of a gay or lesbian person; one high school student; one college student; one representative from an educational institution; and one representative of the mental health profession.

2. The Commission shall meet on a quarterly basis with the Secretary of Education, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Public Health Commissioner and the Secretary of Communities and Development or their designees and shall advise the Executive Office of Health and Human Services on an ongoing basis.

3. The Commission shall investigate the utilization of resources from both the public and private sectors to enhance and improve the ability of state agencies to provide services to gay and lesbian youth.

4. The Commission shall report to the Governor and make recommendations to the Governor relating to the concerns of gay and lesbian youth. The report shall be filed with the Governor on or before September 30, 1992.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 10th day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-two.

William F. Weld, Governor

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly

Secretary of the Commonwealth