GLSEN Phoenix to Join In Day of Silence Remembrance

Murder of California youth Lawrence King points to rampant problem, group says
Apr 21, 2008

The annual event, created by GLSEN’s national organization, seeks to bring attention to the struggles LGBT young people face, through an act of silent activism. GLSEN Phoenix will participate in a “Breaking the Silence” closing ceremony at Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus.

The 2008 Day of Silence is being held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old California student, who was murdered by a fellow classmate. King, who had recently moved into foster care, was purportedly targeted because of his gender expression and sexual orientation.

“Lawrence King was simply trying be himself and live authentically,” said Madelaine Adelman, ASU professor and GLSEN Phoenix co-chair. “ He died because society still tells us it is okay to harass and denigrate LGBT individuals, and sometimes that harassment leads to terrible consequences.”

Gay/Straight Alliance club members and other students throughout the Valley are holding Day of Silence events to draw attention to these consequences. As part of the events, participants hand out cards that read in part:

“Please understand my reasons for not speaking today…. My deliberate silence echoes the silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment.”

The simple protest has drawn criticism from some school administrators and parents. But GLSEN Phoenix co-chair Matthew Heil notes that, as long as any students have a right to organize on campus, every student — including LGBT students and their straight allies — should have that right.

“This is simply a matter of fairness and equal treatment for all student-led clubs,” said Heil. “Participants in the Day of Silence are educating their peers about the challenges LGBT youths face. There’s no more appropriate place to address that fight to be heard and understood than in our schools.”

As part of its efforts to end harassment in K-12 schools, GLSEN Phoenix will be starting a campaign to promote the full implementation of anti-bullying policies throughout the Valley’s school districts, which clearly prohibit harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity.