Opponents of silent observance related to gays aren't keeping quiet

[paigevz]

From the Fort Worth Star Telegram


Some area students are planning a silent observance late this month to denounce the harassment of gays, but a national family values organization is urging parents to keep their children home that day to fight the protest.

http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/559166.html

 

[npmommie]

Those kind of people amaze me............I just don't get it. Why so much time and energy devoted to this? Don't they have anything better to focus on than a day of silence, or the mcdonalds thing??
I just don't get it. I feel bad for any of their children that may be gay or lesbian, it makes me sad that there are so many closed minded judgemental people in the world.

I see they are asking people to call their schools on this................well I looked at the list for my state and see all our local schools on it.........so yes I think i will call the schools and tell them I think it is a good thing they are supporting the day of silence!! and i will let the afa know.........ha!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Interesting.

DS said that his Language Arts teacher (6th grade) actually took the time yesterday to talk with the class about using the word "gay" as an insult. I already liked her, now I like her more. She also talked abut the student who was killed by a classmate because he was gay.

It was good, because it opened a dialog with DS, DH and I about how gay students must feel. We talked about how ALL of our G/L friends KNEW they were gay by the time they were in 3rd grade, so when they were in middle school they knew but probably didn't tell anyone. I asked DS if he would be scared to BE gay or if he was afraid to know other kids who are gay. He said he would be scared to be gay. I think middle school is a scary place in general. I reminded him that out of every 10 boys at least one is gay, and one out of every 20 girls.

I got irritated with DH though, because he kept interrupting DS. I wanted DS to speak - at length - about how the other kids reacted to the news of a gay student being killed by a classmate, if he knows any gay kids (he says he doesn't), and any other thoughts he has. I don't know where DS is on the orientation thing, so I am very careful when I speak to him about relationships, etc. DH is like a bull in a china shop - he doesn't understand that he has to HUSH. DH is very accepting, but he wasn't letting DS do enough talking. I think that is why DS doesn't usually talk to DH about things like that. Hopefully I will have a chance to talk more with DS about it soon because I think there was more that he never managed to get out - not sure if it was statements or questions but I feel like we need to finish the discussion.

I hope the kids who choose to participate in the day of silence are able to get their point across with being harassed.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Gosh, this makes me mad!

My best friend is lesbian, and she's been harrassed not only in school, but in public, for her gender expression and her sexuality.

I've seen it happen to her, too. It's absoultely heart-wrenching.

Our HS has a GSA (although fairly small) and participates in the Day of Silence. We also had a "stop the hate, become an ally" week, where students (us) were asked to sign a pledge (wasn't mandatory) to not say offensive (ie 'gay' '***', etc) language that week. Matthew Shephard (sp?) was honored as well. They also sold rainbow ribbons at lunch.

I highly encourage knowing how those words and "meaningless" sayings really hurt people, even if you don't realize it.

 

[npmommie]

I got irritated with DH though, because he kept interrupting DS. I wanted DS to speak - at length - about how the other kids reacted to the news of a gay student being killed by a classmate, if he knows any gay kids (he says he doesn't), and any other thoughts he has. I don't know where DS is on the orientation thing, so I am very careful when I speak to him about relationships, etc. DH is like a bull in a china shop - he doesn't understand that he has to HUSH. DH is very accepting, but he wasn't letting DS do enough talking. I think that is why DS doesn't usually talk to DH about things like that. Hopefully I will have a chance to talk more with DS about it soon because I think there was more that he never managed to get out - not sure if it was statements or questions but I feel like we need to finish the discussion.

I hope the kids who choose to participate in the day of silence are able to get their point across with being harassed.

I don't know if its a guy thing.........hate to generalize, but my dh is the same way. He needs to learn how to listen and I tell him this all the time. Our kids are still little, but I can see the tendency already for him to talk too much.