A few days ago was the day the GBLTQA community made national news with their Day of Silence.
Day of Silence has grown significantly over the years, starting with over 150 students participating in the first year in 1996. Today, presumably due to increase information available due to technology and word of mouth, seemed to mark a special occasion.
There is a young girl in Mississippi name Constance wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom, the school told her no. She challenged her schools answer in court and was awarded the right to bring her beloved to the event. The school's response? THEY CANCELED PROM.
Now, schools do have a right to cancel events as seen needed, but this seemed a little drastic! A member of the school board that invoked their "right" to cancel stated the following:
"Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year."
Also this:
"In the announcement, the school board encouraged the community to organize a private prom. "It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors. "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this causes anyone," the statement concluded. School officials did not respond to calls seeking comment."(By Chris Joyner, USA TODAY)
So now they no only approve of homophobia, they create a hostile environment for any GBLTQAs that are seeking the same rights as everyone else. With so many states moving forward in the Gay Rights Movement(with the exception of Gay Marriages), how are PUBLIC schools still so far behind?
When I was a Jr at my high school, I went to prom with my girlfriend(for those of you who don't know, I am a proud Bisexual). We didn't have any issues what so ever! We walked grand march and had fun dancing/cuddling all night. In fact, there were numerous girls walking down grand march together(not all of them couples, just friends with no dates). However, two of my gay male friends did experience a rough bump in the road when the main office attempted to stop him from being able to walk down grand march with his boyfriend. They decided not to pursue the matter any further and just enjoy their prom.(Either that or they did attempt to get their right and they didn't tell anyone).
I am fairly certain that someone from the younger class fought their right to bring their boyfriend down grand march and prom and was able to do so.
So how is it that only a few states away, this school board would rather piss on everyone then allow a couple access to prom? If a straight male was playing a practical joke and went down grand march dress as a girl(dress and all) would they allow it?
How far are these homophobic Conservatives willing to go? Why should our community be forced back into the closet or have to "repent their ways and see the light of God and CHOSE to be straight"
We are born this way, we simply were made to love differently. As for people who state the we should "be on medication to correct the way our brain chemicals react that make us GBLTQA", what happen to the golden rules we were taught?
What happened to love thy neighbor as thyself? It doesn't say love thy neighbor as thyself1 then later down the page 1:unless thy neighbor is anything but a Caucasian white collar heterosexual with a happy marriage to a woman and 2 kids in a house that they own in the suburbs and goes to church Wednesday night and Sunday morning. Also, they must not associate with anyone outside these boundaries.
You may laugh, but look at all the issues. Even in certain areas of Africa, blacks are treated as a second class citizen!
We need to STOP the hate and phobia and teach love and tolerance.
Hell, people outside of any gender, race, sexual orientation, social status, age etc...
You don't need to like people outside of what your ideal lifestyle should be, but that doesn't mean you should call names, bully, beat up, ban, or kill people who "aren't like you".
Just leave them be, let them do what you are trying to do: Live their lives, Share their Love, and Pass on their Blessings
Back to Day of Silence:
I made it about 20mins(due to my job and child) were pretty good.
How long did you last?
To get more information about Day of Silence please go to:
http://www.dayofsilence.org/index.cfm
They will give you what you need to set up for next year!
I'm trying for 30mins next year! :-)
LOVE YOU ALL
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I liked your post on this. Well, it was kind of strange at our school. One church group stood out on the street near our school with signs about how bad the GAYS are. Then there was this "silence". Last year the local GLAD group put on a concert at our school to raise awareness and it was really fun and everyone loved it. Of course, that was also the year some mother got in a shouting match with a pastor too during the "noted" silence time. Thanks for the note.
ReplyDeleteWay to go you!:).I have from India but I have been following the Constance case on Facebook. In my country, LGBT are still ostracized. Theres an article in the constitution that criminalises same sex love!But the times are hopefully changing!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea there was a day of silence. I will respect it next year, but I have Diarhea of the Mouth, so I may not make it too long. I guess it is the thought and tyring that counts, right?
ReplyDeleteI thought that what they had done to Constance was awful. My school was fine with it. I took girl's both times (though one was my best friend and the other my cousin) and we have had a bisexual girl bring her girlfriend to prom before. It wasn't a big deal.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Day of Silence I lasted pretty long because of my shift that day (I work 4 different shifts at work) was one where I was basically by myself.