Today, in thousands of middle schools, high schools and colleges across the US, the 13th annual Day of Silence organised by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) will be observed. Hundreds of thousands of students are expected to take some form of a vow of silence to draw attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment that LGBT students experience on a daily basis. Just last week, an 11 year old Massachusetts boy by the name of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover decided to hang himself because he could not endure the constant taunting by his schoolmates. Apparently the boy didn’t even identify as gay, probably wasn’t even gay — but the constant bullying and harrassment proved too much for his little heart to endure, and one day he decided to wrap a cord around his neck and hang himself while his mother was preparing dinner. Today would have been his twelfth birthday, but instead his family is preparing to bury him.
In the above CNN report, Anderson Cooper notes that while there is zero tolerance for racist harassment today, many schools will do absolutely nothing for students that are taunted with homophobic remarks, whether or not they are gay. It also mentions the case of 17 year old Ohio boy Eric Mohat who shot himself after the school did nothing to stop his classmates from calling him “fag”, “queer”, “gay” and “homo”, often in front of teachers.
How many more lives will we lose before schools actually sit up and do something about this?
Today is the Day of Silence. But no, we will not remain silent.
1 Responses
April 17th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
I have to say, this day was and still is important to me. I suffered for years with the whole bullying.. getting called a fag, queer, etc.. I just wish more people took this day more serious and looked at it as tho.. being called fat, or a racial slur… we all are affected by words.. and no one knows whats going on inside someone.. so before you speak.. think.. and if you have any question.. on if you should say something dont and if your doing it to be “cool” trust me.. you make yourself look like an @$$.. so for all that have suffered just take it and make yourself stronger.. never give up for this road is a long one, but when our fight is over.. we will win and be joyful forever.. love you all..
Bruce
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