RSO presents Day of Silence

By Sarah Small
University of Illinois

Members of the Registered Student Organization PRIDE celebrated the end of the Day of Silence on Friday afternoon at a rally outside of the Union to remember people who have lost their lives because of their sexual orientation and to recognize the work that still needs to be done.

"Our silence was our choice, but there are many people that came before us who have been permanently silenced," said Gary Yen, a graduate student and president of PRIDE, the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual student group on campus.

Yen estimates that about 100 people attended the rally, but the actual number of people who participated in the Day of Silence is difficult to determine.

There were several speakers who presented at the rally, including ministers from Champaign churches; Fiona Ngo, an assistant professor of Asian American Studies and Gender and Women's Studies; Curt McKay, director of the LGBT resources office; and a representative from state Sen. Michael Frerichs' office.

"I apologize because I have wounded LGBT in what I represent," the Rev. Keith Harris from the McKinley Presbyterian Church said at the rally.

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ours.bz Silent for Lawrence King, Day of Silence

In observance of the Day of Silence, this blog will be silent Friday, April 25, 2008.

Silent for Lawrence King:

Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence (DOS), a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment. This year’s DOS is held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15 year-old student who was killed in school because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today."

Day of Silence creates Turmoil

It amazes me to see the amount of turmoil developing over a single day of silence.

This year a fellow student killed an eighth grade gay student! If this does not send up red flags and alarms to people in our society then people simply are not listening.

The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year’s event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, the California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression.

BUT, there seems to be some who don’t want safer schools (perhaps the fact it was “just a gay kid” who was killed?).

The American Family Association issued an Action Alert advising parents to contact administrators of schools to protest the Day of Silence.

CNS News issued a boycott: Boycott Homosexual 'Day of Silence,' Pro-Family Group Says

Then the “parrots” started coming out:

Homosexual sponsored "Day of Silence" in Public Schools
Day of Silence Scam Places Children at Risk
Fighting the gay agenda in schools

They’ve even come up with the Day of Truth in attempt to directly counteract the Day of Silence.

As a rebuttal to the Day of Truth, this video was created.

THANKFULLY, there are more who do want safer schools.

• GSA Network
• Sun Sentinel
• 365Gay
• GLSEN
• PFLAG
• Pam’s Houseblend
• Many YouTube videos
• “Day of Silence” on myspace
• School principal in complete support

As a side note, I will not be making any posts this Friday in observance of the Day of Silence.

Mount Si High School Principal defends DOS

WASHINGTON: Despite some parents' and students' objections to the Day of Silence, Mount Si High School Principal Randy Taylor told the Snoqualmie Valley School District board last week that the high school's Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) had begun planning this year's event, scheduled for April 25.

Taylor said organizers were working to set expectations of respect for all students - participants and non-participants - on the Day of Silence, which is part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gendered and questioning (LGBTQ) students and allies who do not feel safe enough to speak their true voice.

"The Day of Silence is just one [of many school activities] that sends a powerful message that all students are respected and have the right to learn regardless of the label they wear at school, at home or in the community. We are a better school because of activities like the Day of Silence," Taylor said at the standing-room-only meeting Thursday, March 6.

He said the GSA was working to address "the blatant misconception that participating or not participating in the Day of Silence is about choosing a side and drawing lines over GLBTQ rights."

Taylor added that staff members and students would be educated on expectations for the day, and communication with parents would remain open. Aune said that participating in the Day of Silence is within students' right to free expression, and that "any form of bullying will not be tolerated."

Mount Si parents and other community members belonging to a group called the Coalition to Defend Education (CoDE) wrote in a letter to the school board and Mount Si administration that the Day of Silence creates an unsafe environment for non-participating students, whom they claim are labeled as anti-gay. They also wrote that the Day of Silence is a distraction to learning, and shapes a school environment where school employees feel emboldened to advocate their personal opinions.

Tom's personal opinion:

I find it very telling how the anti-gay community is screaming and yelling about their children having to feel offended if they are non-supportive of DOS.

GLBTQIA's are asking the non-supportive community to feel, for one single day, what the GLBTQIA community feels EVERYDAY!

It seems the non-supportive community can't handle it for even one day. Now who are the weak and pathetic?