Today is the 2014 Day of Silence, an annual event sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) meant to protest anti-LGBTQ bullying. Students across the nation are silent for the day to raise awareness of the silencing impact of homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools.
Homophobic and transphobic bullying is an ugly reality for many LGBTQ youth. Research shows that LGBTQ youth report disproportionate rates of bullying, sexual harassment, and harsh school discipline. Lowered quality of life and negative psychological outcomes, such as depression and suicidal thoughts, are the all-too-common results.
LGBTQ youth deserve better than this. All students deserve safe, respectful school environments in which they can learn.
The Day of Silence is a thorn in the side of the Religious Right, many of whom refuse to take anti-LGBTQ bullying seriously. For example, several Religious Right groups have endorsed the Day of Silence Walkout, an event created in resistance to the Day of Silence. Also, Focus on the Family sponsors a rival event called the Day of Dialogue, which encourages students to talk about "the truth about God’s deep love for us and what the Bible really says about His redemptive design for marriage and sexuality". On the surface, the Day of Dialogue discourages bullying, but its true purpose is to enshrine binary gender and heterosexual marriage as the only legitimate expressions of gender identity and sexuality.
Anti-LGBTQ figures continue to ignore the facts, but the reality is that LGBTQ youth face an uphill battle, and we have an obligation to support them. Here's to ending homophobic and transphobia in schools and in society as a whole.
So the Christians are now creating special events "in resistance to" an anti-bullying action???
ReplyDeleteCould they possibly make their true nature any more obvious? It's no wonder they're losing the young in droves.
Infidel -- It's been like this for years. The Religious Right loathes the Day of Silence, and they could care less that their homophobia and transphobia contributes to bullying. They're showing their true colors, and it should anger decent people.
DeletePretty amazing that there is a Day of Silence Walkout. I mean if you participate in this, then you are 100% bigot. There is no way to deny it.
ReplyDeleteWhats interesting is that the religious think the teachers participate. I mean sure if the teacher is not teaching then why go to class, but this is a student action. As such there is no reason to stage a walkout. The only reason is to show you think bullying is OK.
Christian -- It's brazen bigotry. I'd like to see the Religious Right get HALF as worked up over school bullying as it does over anti-bullying measures linked to LGBTQ rights.
DeleteHow obnoxious! I didn't read the instructions to parents on the Day of Silence Walkout page, but I have this image of protesters trying to remain silent during non-class time, only to be confronted by students who are in their face trying to force them into conversation--because they support bullying?!
ReplyDeleteDonna -- The so-called Day of Dialogue is usually on a different date than the Day of Silence, but still, the sentiment behind it is disappointing. The people behind this don't want "dialogue", they want to proselytize.
DeleteWhy can't they just acknowledge that LGBTQ kids are being bullied, and that bullying is wrong? It's not that complicated!
"Why can't they just acknowledge that LGBTQ kids are being bullied, and that bullying is wrong?"
DeleteAnswer: because... they are the ones doing the bullying!
It's the polarization between the two sides that becomes alarming. But I suppose it's true that such polarization is merely the last desperate gasps of the far right. Here's hoping ...
ReplyDeleteAgi Tater -- The Religious Right has noticed that LGBTQ people are gaining more visibility and rights, and they're fighting against it with all their might.
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