Day of silence in schools

When teachers at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex School of Justice ask for participation in classes today, they will be met with silence from more than 900 students, more than half the school. The din that generally acts as background to high school life will be stilled, as the school marks a Day of Silence, an effort to bring attention to and stop bullying of gay and lesbian students at schools. Events will occur around the country today and Friday.

A student at left applauds a speaker talking about the protest at a school ceremony Thursday. The button honors Lawrence King, 15, who friends say had endured anti-gay taunts and slurs long before he was fatally shot and killed at his Oxnard school in February, allegedly by a 14-year-old classmate.

At the end of the ceremony, about 50 students from the school's Gay Straight Alliance placed black carnations on a coffin to symbolize the "death of homophobia."

Today, the participants plan to break their silence with an assembly. On Friday, students will see a preview of "Tru Loved." Cast members Jasmine Guy, Bruce Vilanch, Nichelle Nichols and Elaine Hendrix were among the speakers at Miguel Contreras on Thursday. Also there were officials from several organizations, including the Day of Silence sponsor, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

L.A. Unified School Board President Monica Garcia said she was inspired by the students and their efforts toward "a more just and humane world." The biggest cheers went to Lydia Castillo, a student at the school who organized today's protest.

-- Mary MacVean

Photos: Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Susan]

A few quick things: The term "homophobia" should not be used. People who are against homosexuality are not AFRAID of homosexuals ("PHOBIA" = "fear of"); they are simply agreeing with God that homosexuality is perversion and an abomination (see Leviticus 18:22, Genesis 19, Romans 1:27-28, Jude 7, 1 Corinthians 6:9, to name a few references to homosexuality and the permanent consequences). People that are supposedly homophobes just want homosexuals to stop their perversion and at the same time stop saying that there is nothing wrong with it. Repenting will lead to God's forgiveness, which any reasonable person should want . . . as opposed to damnation. ----Christians do not hate homosexuals or want them harmed or harassed in any way; they just want them to end the disgusting behavior. We have to reflect God's will in this matter and cannot go along with the crowd, just because society now "accepts" lesbianism and homosexuality. By the way, there's only one detestible sexual practice that society can now turn to to embrace: beastiality. Is that what we will say is OK next?

[Lucas]

Why is it that so many conservative Christians always make the leap from homosexuality to beastiality? It's ridiculous and ignorant to put the two in the same grouping.

[Rodney Gentry]

As the lead teacher of the School of Social Justice at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, I am overwhelmed with pride by my students' orchestration of this year's Day of Silence protest. The young people have been working diligently to bring awareness of LGBTQ issues to our campus, and they are models of acceptance. I predict many of these students will be future leaders in not only the LGBTQ human rights movement, but other social justice causes as well.

I must say in closing, that our school was honored to have GLSEN, PFLAG, and GSA representatives; Tru Loved director and cast members; LAUSD representatives; and media on our campus yesterday to support our Day of Silence event. The work you all do on a day-to-day basis helps make our students' lives better, and we all thank you!

[Ruben]

It's the bible thumpers that have created such hate and intolerance in todays society. As much as the religious zeolots think homosexuals have a choice to not be who they are shows the level of ignorance.

[Mason]

Thanks Susan, I needed to find fallacies for an assignment and your comment was so loaded with them it made it easy.

[Tiffany]

Susan, your comments are vicious & hurtful, and perpetuate the cycle of abuse towards the LGBT community. How dare you quote scripture to substantiate your evil remarks, "only he who is free from sin shall cast stones". Sin is SIN in the eyes of God, and NO ONE is free from sin. So climb off your high horse, and join the rest of us!

[dharper]

I first must state that I am not a "bible thumping" right wing conservative Christian (although I would not condemn anyone who identifies himself as such).

What interests me is this scenario: Do you really believe that the School of Social Justice would allow a dissenting group to present a play called "Tru Loved" depicting the union of male and female as the natural order of mankind?It would get "shot down" in a New York minute.

As a previous poster stated, I do not wish any harm to any homosexual and he/she may live their lives as they see fit. However, I am getting increasingly tired of having their agenda thrown at me day after day and if I disagree with them I then become a biased person.

This project by this School for Social Justice is just another glaring example of the detioration of not only the public school system but society in general. There are no longer any absolutes for anything anymore and within 50-75 years our nation will become nothing more than another third world nation rampant with disease, poverty and ignorance. Should make all the "liberals" very pleased with themselves.

What a mess to leave to our great grandchildren.

[Eric Borsum]

As a gay parent, I commend the students and faculty of The School of Social Justice at the Miguel Contrerars Learning Complex for their work to make their school and our community a safer place for LGBT youth and their straight allies.

And as part of the creative team for the film TRU LOVED, I am honored to be a telling a story that so closely mirrors experiences of students observing Day of Silence. TRU LOVED tackles real topics faced by real families. The film provides youth, their families and friends with a safe opportunity to explore important issues.

Finally, shame on those who wish to inject poison and hate into this dialogue that is meant to recognize the accomplishments of the hundreds of students at this Los Angeles high school.

[MICHAEL]

dear dharper, if you look would take just a moment to look around you it is the conservative movement that is destroying thnings in this nation and on earth as a whole. Wake Up can't you see that our earth and lives are at stake. Why do you continue to follow conservative bs. Let me give you one example: conservatives say lets have less government yet they have ran up the national dept to over 3 trillion dollars.....Hello thats a T for trillion! Conservatives are nothing more than wolves in sheeps clothing and just love to stand behind the G-word

[m b]

First Mason Susans post was quite logical and full of facts from the veiw point of a christian conservative.

What was left out how ever was a couple over verses from Luke. Something about judge and be judged.

Fact of the matter is the school is in the wrong. They are once again trying to be the morals for a society instead of letting the parents teach their children morals.

Leave the teachings of morals to the parents. How about teaching something a little more important, like US History, or maybe even the english language.

[Ioana]

dharper:
"Do you really believe that the School of Social Justice would allow a dissenting group to present a play called "Tru Loved" depicting the union of male and female as the natural order of mankind?"

No, as you say, they would not. But the comparison is not valid. In one case, you are dictating what IS the natural order for all people--this is the "Adam-Eve" story we've grown up with; in the other, you are saying, end discrimination and let each choose his own path--or, in other words, you try and break the bonds of what you have been taught in mostly silent compliance.

One case is a constriction of independence, and a definition of what Morality and love is, the other is an admission of constriction and an attempt to break from bondage of what has always been taught but that does not take everyone's individualities into account.

As for your, "getting sick of people throwing this in your face", I think that is a perfect example of the ignorance everpresent in society today. How is your life made difficult by this? There is ONE day that celebrates this, articles in the newspaper that you can ignore, and so on. But on the other hand you have kids killed because they are gay, people living lives in fear of discrimination, etc.

I don't think you're the one who is hurting dharper.

[William]

This is fantastic! I love seeing young folks taking a stand on what they think is right - even if it doesn't mesh with what their parents or other peers think.

What always gets me about the folks who post comments like the couple above ("conservative christian types") is the ignorance that there is only one God or that we all believe in the same one, or that one exists, or that we want to deal with Him at all. A majority doesn't equal right which is why this Day of Silence is so important!

I agree with the previous poster - sin is sin, is sin is sin, and it doesn't matter which one or what kind, if you believe in a God that judges that sin, then you should concern your self with your own salvation and leave the rest of the world alone.

Bravo to the kids and the school officials and the groups that stood up and stood behind them!

[Stewart Wade]

I am the writer/director of "Tru Loved," and I was at the event on Thursday. Even after having made a movie that deals with issues of homophobia, I was tremendously moved by the efforts of these students. With so much bad news constantly in the media, it was refreshing to experience an event that gave me hope for the future. These kids really are leading the way towards a less hate-filled world.

[KR]

Susan, you continue to buy into the rhetoric and fail to do your own digging. You use the word "abomination," and yet do you understand the etymology and context of the word "toe'vah," as found in the source documents for the Old Testament? And do you realize that your I Corinthians 6:9 reference did not exist in its contemporary politicized form in Bible versions until the 20th century? The entire "christian" argument that members of the GLBT community are somehow a violation of God's will is predicated upon falsehood, upon statements that simply do not read as printed in most modern Bibles when you go back to the source documents, often the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is that ignorance - literally, being unaware of the truth of the matter - that is the entire reason that things like the Day of Silence are necessary. The word "homophobia" is quite accurate, as the entire rhetoric is the result of male fear. What you claim to be "the word of god" is meddlesome editing of ancient texts.

No person who uses the Bible as a vehicle for gay-bashing has seriously investigated the texts they cite. If they had, they would have gained the insight that those ancient documents are open to MASSIVE speculation, interpretation, and opinion. To accept them as patent literal truth, particularly in the profoundly mistranslated forms that Susan is quoting, is to perpetuate ignorance and weaken the true goals of Christianity.

There's nothing "christian" about persecuting others, Susan, and your desire for others to stop calling it fear only reveals it as the fear it truly is.

[Elaine Hendrix]

Let's not get sidetracked by the people who insist they know what is right and wrong and damn everyone else who don't follow accordingly.

Let's instead focus on the beauty and the power these youths are creating with their compassion and wisdom, and their complete rejection of violence as a solution to anything.

I don't care what your religious, political or sexual views are. A young boy was brutally murdered and his peers refuse to let people forget. In fact, they're going one step further to take tangible actions that it will never happen again. You'd have to be made of icy stone to not applaud their commitment to love and life.

[Bryan Erickson]

m b,
I am deeply perplexed by your comment on this event. I am a child of gay parents, I have four fathers, and I am in this film Tru Loved. What are you saying? These kids are living in a world where they are afraid to be themselves. I have seen it in the student body of both my own school and Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. Some parents need to understand that we are trying to figure ourselves out, think our own thoughts and we cannot have old hatred, segregation bleed into the mindset of kids now.
This is not about teachers being wrong, but about the parents needing to step back and let your children become self-sufficient adults. Let your kids make their own decisions. Be they anti or pro gays, whatever, I have no problem, just so long as these ideas and these thoughts are their own and not the deadly echoes of homophobia that their parents taught them was right.

We know what is wrong and right, let us become the leaders the world needs right now. You, m b, can learn a thing or two from the lessons these kids from Miguel Contreras are teaching.

[Antonio]

The kids who participated in the Day of Silence and organized these wonderful events are to be applauded for their drive, integrity, grace and maturity. It seems more often than not we are reading about negative activities on our school campuses and violence among our youth. Here is a shining example of hundreds of young people coming together to create a safe, supportive learning environment. That kind of news is a joy to read!!

[Bonnie Goodman]

But the true issue is respect for diversity. That's the message here. Nicely done.

[ohpuhleez]

I would hope that the school WOULD allow a play like that to be performed - a little something called free speech and equal time - maybe you've all heard of them?

But that's missing the point. No one is ever using the term "the natural order of things" to reference LGBT relationships, marriage, parenting, youth...it's just what is. It's not natural. It's not unnatural. It just IS.

So live and let live - stop the judgement, and good on this school for being such great role models for the next generation! I'm a mom and they've made me proud!!

[Thomas Aidan Bothwell]

As a recovering Californian (born and raised!) who will NEVER return to the state I was born in (oh yeah, as a white man that would be the state my ancestors stole from the indigenous natives and their oppressive Spanish overlords....much like everywhere else in history) I have to state that the following comments win the prize for complete and total idiocy:

"Let's instead focus on the beauty and the power these youths are creating with their compassion and wisdom, and their complete rejection of violence as a solution to anything. "

When's the last time you saw "youth" do anything positive? How about running the story of the youth who dressed his senile grandmother up as a gangster. You think these callow, inexperienced, intellectually incomplete children are "wise"? Spare me the fertilizer. I reside in an Asian society where children are now dumping their aged parents and grandparents so that they (the children) can pursue their own lives. We (the aged)were once respected, now reviled. And you wonder why birth rates are dropping? What child wants kids who will treat him or her like they treated their own parents.

"These kids really are leading the way towards a less hate-filled world."

Nah, seriously, whoever wrote this is missing the big picture. Human beings haven't stopped killing each other since Cain and Abel. Good luck to you post-Enlightenment liberals who think man is "perfectable". The continued existence of a military profession proves you all wrong.

"Thanks Susan, I needed to find fallacies for an assignment and your comment was so loaded with them it made it easy."

I'm not sure I saw any logical fallacies in what Susan said. I do think the poster of the above really needs to confront his or her own intellectual inadequacies before using words of two or more syllables. Oh yes, and do try to take a course in Logic.

And to the LA Times: Thank you for this article. It reminds me of why I will never return to California, and why I now join the rest of ther nation in cracking the "Gosh, I hope California falls into the Pacific Ocean jokes."

Cheers and hope the Big One hits you all soon.

Thomas Aidan Bothwell

[Michael]

Dear Susan,
MY God is gay-
and he is heterosexual, bisexual LOVING and INCLUDING. How sad that YOUR God is so BITTER and CONDEMMING.

[Will]

Day of Silence?? Ridiculous - if these homosexuals were devout in their beliefs, they would have a Day of Talk. This displays the fault in the whole foundation of a day promoting homosexuality. Would you have a day promoting alcoholism? (no, right?) Then why have a day promoting homosexuality? While I don't believe homosexuality should be illegal, I also don't believe it should be touted as a normal thing. It's not normal, and those unfortunate few who count themselves as homosexuals should recognize this and want to improve themselves. I fight against alcoholism every day - and so should those who suffer from homosexuality, pedophilia and drug addiction. Feh.

[Bec]

MICHAEL,
I am a conservative Christian. And you hate me for it. I did not choose this...my faith system is ingrained in me. Yet you hate me for who I am...you are no better.

BTW- my uncle was gay. In 1991 I watched him die the most hororific death to AIDS.

You are telling me that my way of life is wrong. While at the same time telling me that I do not have the right to tell others that what I think, all because of what I believe.

You are no better than that which you hate.

[Rebecca bicknell]

ok well i didnt no anything about it until i got on the bus and i was shocked how someone could do that to someone just because they were gay! i have friends that are gay and they know people dont like it but oh well it is there life let them live it their way!! My friends know that i go to church and belive in God and all of that but i dont acy any differnt around my gay and my reagular friends i belive that if they want to live their life that way then let them!

[Theresa Shell]

I am a firm believer in loving and respecting and accepting human beings for what kind of person they are and do not believe anyone should be defined by race, color, religion or whether they are gay, straight, bisexual or transexual. I am a true believer in human rights for ALL people. And, I am a true believer that judgment, if there is any that is anyone's right, is God's and that these issues are between God and the individual. As a 53 year old, straight, mother and grandmother, I applaud and endeavor daily to support and love my gay brothers and sisters and I welcome the love, joy and diversity they have brought into my life. It is not for me to interpret God's intentions, only he can do that. But I do know that God is a loving God and He created different. And, different is beautiful.

Theresa Shell
Burbank, California