April 13, 2007
Local Students to Take Part in a Day Of Silence Supporting LGBT Community
Students at Austin High School, LBJ High school, Travis High School, Westlake High School, Hendrickson High School, and many other local schools will join students across the nation in a Day of Silence to protest the discrimination, harassment and abuse faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students and their allies in schools next Tuesday, April 18.
Over 100 silent participants will wear stickers and pass out 'speaking cards' that read: "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?"
Additionally, Out Youth will co-host Day of Silence Rally on April 18th at the state capitol along with Equality Texas, PFLAG Austin, ALLGO, The University of Texas Queer Students Alliance, and Transgender Advocates of Central Texas (TACT). The Rally, 5-6:30 pm will have an open microphone for youth to share their testimonies and thoughts about the bullying and harassment LGBT youth face in schools.
photo by phunkstarr no flickr
|
man i remember doing this thing way back in high school and people would read that message (as i had taped it to my shirt) and then say "so what are you saying, you're gay now?" and it was endlessly frustrating because i couldn't just say "no, you fool, it's symbolic".
i'd like to think i did this for purely altruistic reasons but it was probably more along the lines of a teenager's endless need to make a statement.
a few of my friends and i are interested in participating, but i was wondering where we could get the stickers/ "speaking cards".