One of the problems with being a columnist is the fact that people come up to you and ask you to write a column about something you don't care about.
But when my roommate and best friend since seventh grade asked me to write one, I thought I'd save it till the end. He wanted one about ratemyprofessor.com, and how people need to keep doing it since he uses it like a Bible. I had planned to write about this today.
But sadly, I cannot do this. Other issues — bigger issues — are at hand.
Since 1996, students nationwide have silently protested the treatment of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. They have silently protested the murder of people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. For more than a decade, this protest has grown to become the nation's largest student-led protest.
Titled "National Day of Silence," students remain silent, to speak out against all of the hate-speech and hate-crimes GLBT people deal with in their day-to-day lives. Annually, GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) has chosen to honor someone who was killed because of who they are.
This year, they are honoring Lawrence King, a 15-year-old who was shot to death in February while sitting in his California classroom because of his sexual orientation and gender identity.
National Day of Silence is today.
I hadn't planned to write about this day because it is, as I said, the nation's largest student-led protest. There really is no reason to write about it, because people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are actively choosing to exercise their right to remain silent for a day.
Or at least they did until an organization called Mission America came along. Mission America is an organization that is attempting to end Day of Silence. They do not agree with it because it endorses homosexuality. Because of their efforts, 10 Valley schools have decided to not allow student organizations to participate in this day. These schools have fallen to parents complaining that they do not want their good children to be exposed to the "homosexual agenda."
They might as well have pulled the trigger on Lawrence King.
After visiting the Mission America's Web site, www.missionamerica.com, I am nothing but appalled at the messages they are spreading. What is most appalling about this organization is not the message it is spreading — I've heard it all before.
Instead, it is that the tactics they are using to attack the homosexual community are somewhat barbaric to say the least. They are attempting to link homosexuals with witchcraft, and I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted to burn us at the stake all over again. They are asking questions like "can you imagine officials at a middle school, junior high or high school setting aside a day to promote tolerance for heavy smoking and drinking among children? How about a day where teachers encourage kids to 'embrace who they are,' pick up that crack pipe and give it a stiff toke?"
These statements, coming directly from Mission American's Web site, are the reason why Day of Silence is so important.
It is because of this organization that I am forced to write about Day of Silence, and the reason I will be there passing out materials at one of the 10 schools that have stopped their students from participating in this day.
Student organizations, such as Gay Straight Alliances on these campuses, cannot pass out material, hang up posters or endorse this day. However, while school administrations have stopped student organizations from participating in this day, students can, per the First Amendment, practice this day — regardless of what any administration says.
And so, today, before you speak, think about those words and how today students nationwide are not speaking at all.
Though Ray Ceo Jr. loves Day of Silence, he cannot remain silent for a whole day. To chat with him, e-mail him at: raymond.ceo@asu.edu.
