Day of Silence prompts so-called Day of “Truth”

From the Editor: Day of Silence prompts so-called Day of “Truth”

They’re at it again… the Religious Reich, here in the name of the Eagle Forum of Sacramento among others, are sponsoring a so-called Day of “Truth” on April 14, the day after the Day of Silence. These are people whose “truth” lies in a fantasy world of magical thinking, where all that science, medicine, and psychology have to offer are rejected in favor of narrow prejudices and ancient enmities. They intend to spread these “truths” to students on as many campuses as they can in response to what they believe is the encroachment of the “homosexual agenda” onto their once protected sphere of influence. Clearly, they have chosen to ignore the ongoing problems of harassment and discrimination against LGBT youth, in many cases because they are the very people who encourage the marginalization of sexual minorities. They’ve chosen instead to rail against what they perceive is the discrimination against their right to discriminate against gay youth. It’s how they look through their looking glass.

I’ve been asked how one should respond to these folks. I’m not sure that their form of bigotry is deserving of a response. But since people are going to want to respond, I’ll pass along some ideas from GLSEN mixed in with some advice of my own.

First, these folks probably have all the First Amendment bases covered, so unless they are a bunch of adults or they have students going into classrooms during class time and spouting religious nonsense, I wouldn’t attempt to shut them down or shut them up. Let them speak. The more they speak, the more nonsensical their “truths” will appear.

The Day of Silence uses the historical silencing of LGBT people as a way to protest anti-LGBT discrimination and harassment. Participants want to create safe schools for all, including LGBT students. In California, students are simply asking that existing laws (such as AB537 and SB71) be enforced in all schools in the state.

The Day of “Truth,” according to the Alliance Defense Fund, “was established to counter the promotion of the homosexual agenda and expresses an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective.” Once they’ve incorrectly framed what the Day of Silence is all about, they go on to elaborate on their familiar litany of “truths:” blaming the health crisis of HIV/AIDS on LGBT people, biblical injunctions against homosexuality, and opposition to gay and lesbian couples right to marriage equality.

In response to these “truths,” don’t even mention the “Day of Truth” by name. This “event” isn’t deserving of the credibility such an acknowledgement conveys. One can politely point out that the issue at hand is the bullying, harassment, name-calling and violence that LGBT students see and face in our schools. Opponents often protest, but rarely add anything positive to finding ways to end anti-LGBT harassment.

In fact, the anti-gay folks are often the very ones contributing to an environment of bullying and discrimination. I’ve never heard anyone disparagingly remark, “That’s so Christian!” But I hear “That’s so gay” all the time.

For more information, go to http://www.dayofsilence.org.