Bob Ellis column Tuesday April 10th expressed concern about the “National Day of Silence” sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
He claimed sexual orientation is irrelevant in bullying. Home schooling his children to protect them from other points of view, makes questionable his credibility to speak to conditions for GLBT students in our schools. Anyone listening to bullies’ language or paying attention to who get targeted will know Ellis isn’t credible. He gets his information filtered by a “theocratic house of money” in Colorado. Seldom does an hour go by that school students don’t hear a derogatory comment or a negative slang word about GLBT people. That doesn’t even include the harassment from judgmental, self-righteous religious zealots.
The National Day of Silence is about more than bullying. It’s about saving lives. The suicide rate for GLBT teens and young adults is ten times the national average. Most of these kids suffer in silence. They don’t know whom to trust. Religious leaders are too busy condemning them. School officials are afraid to bring up the subject because of negative backlash. Parents are unaware, in denial or afraid. There is no support system.
These young people are realizing what the bullies and the religious fanatics are saying is about them and they internalize the hatred. They hate themselves for being different. Too many see suicide as the only way out. Ironically, GLBT kids from fundamentalist families are at greatest risk because they live in an hostile environment. Be careful whom you hate. It may be someone you love.
National Day of Silence symbolizes the silence that victimizes GLBT kids. It uses that silence to identify supportive people in whom these kids can confide including teachers, staff and other students.
Sexual orientation isn’t something that’s chosen. It isn’t sexual behavior. Most of the kids who commit suicide aren’t sexually active. No one is advocating irresponsible sexual behavior. We don’t advocate for sexual behavior. We advocate for people and their right to be the person the creator intended.
Ellis called it a promotion of “sexual ideology”. Forcing members of society into rigid, restrictive sexual and gender roles to the detriment of those who don’t fit those roles is sexual ideology. Using fear, ignorance and prejudice justified by religious dogma for financial and political gain is sexual ideology.
Trying to help people come to terms with who they are and how the creator made them isn’t an ideology. It’s human, Christian compassion and love.
Information being distributed by the Family Policy Council for their “Day of Truth” has been condemned and discredited by every reputable medical, psychiatric, psychological, pediatric and social work organization. It should more properly be labeled “The Day of Lies”. It’s not only false it’s harmful. More information at: www.truthwinsout.org.
Ellis claims our kids are being caught in the cross fire of the culture wars. He’s right. However, it’s his politically motivated religious sexual ideology that’s pulling the trigger. Their blood is on his hands. Love is God!!
1 comment:
The sexuality harrassment isn't just happening kid on kid. In my school, it is happening teacher on student. I have a student who has reported to me that he has been called into a private room and harranged by his teacher that his sexuality is against Gods' law and that he will be going to Hell for it. He reports that this has happened on four occasions with the same teacher and that his report card has most recently been downgraded to reflect his flamboyant, not flagrant, personality. He also reports that the principal of his school supported the teacher. This student is the President of the Student Government Association and is very active in student activities. He has the respect of his peers but not of his teachers. He was given the equivalent of a "C" rather than an "A" because he is an "out" gay.
There's the tip of the iceberg, Bob Ellis, then there's the rest of it. This kind of silent harrassment needs to be persued and acted upon. People need to learn what is sexual harrassment and how to cause change.
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