Pro-Homosexual Day of Silence Coming

Special Report - April 14, 2008
Parents beware. In less than two weeks, the pro-homosexual “Day of Silence” (DOS) will be observed by thousands of students in public and private schools nationwide, including nearly 30 schools right here in North Carolina. Sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), the 12^th annual DOS is scheduled for Friday, April 25, although some schools observe the event on other dates. In many schools, DOS events are not organized by the school administration but by members of pro-homosexual student clubs known as Gay-Straight Alliances, or GSAs.

GLSEN describes the DOS as “a student-led day of action when concerned students…take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment—in effect, the silencing—experienced by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) students and their allies.” This year’s DOS is also being used to highlight the recent murder of Lawrence King, a troubled 15-year-old boy in California who often came to school dressed as a girl. King was fatally shot by another student earlier this year. During the DOS, participating students hand out “speaking cards,” which state, in part: “Silent for Lawrence King…My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment…Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?” According to GLSEN, participating students may also distribute DOS stickers and buttons throughout the day, give school-approved speeches about the DOS, hold “silent lunches” in the cafeteria, and organize after-school vigils in memory of King, or DOS parties.

“Although some say the ‘Day of Silence’ is about promoting safety and tolerance for all students, in particular, homosexual and transgender students are universally portrayed as victims in need of special protection,” said North Carolina Family Policy Council President, Bill Brooks. “Middle and high school students are especially vulnerable to peer pressure, which unfortunately makes the ‘Day of Silence’ an effective tool for homosexual activists, who use the event to draw attention to sexually confused young people and elicit sympathy from other students for the homosexual agenda.”

Brooks added, “The ‘Day of Silence’ promotes the acceptance of homosexuality, bisexuality and transgenderism as normal. Parents should do all they can to protect their children from in-school events that are aimed at promoting dangerous behaviors, which put young people at risk for lifelong spiritual, physical, mental and emotional harm.”

This year, a coalition of pro-family organizations is urging Christian parents to pull their children out of schools that are actively or passively participating in the DOS. Organized by several groups, including the Illinois Family Institute, Mission: America, and the American Family Association, the “Day of Silence Walkout” is a national initiative aimed at protesting the promotion of the homosexual agenda in schools. The “Walkout” began several years ago with one activist mother in Illinois, who decided to pull her teenage daughter out of school to protest the DOS. Her courageous action inspired the national walkout campaign. 

“It’s outrageous that our neighborhood schools would allow homosexual activism to intrude into the classroom,” said Buddy White of the American Family Association in a press release. “‘Day of Silence’ is about coercing students to repudiate traditional morality. It’s time for Christian parents to draw the line—if your children will be exposed to this Day of Silence propaganda in their school, then keep them home for the day.”

The “DOS Walkout” coalition advises concerned parents to: 1) Call your child’s school to find out whether the school is “actively or passively” observing the DOS, and be especially wary of schools with active GSA student clubs (Mission: America has a list of participating schools on its web site, including a list for North Carolina); 2. If the school is observing the DOS, inform school officials that you are keeping your children home on that date, and explain why (Mission: America offers a sample letter on its website for parents to use); 3. Explain to your children why you are taking this action; and 4) Pray with your children for sexual purity and wisdom for how to respond to sexually confused teens.

Copyright © 2008. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.