| Author |
Message |
Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
|
 Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:08 pm Group to Counter Students' Anti-Gay Bias Day |
|
| Quote: | Group to Counter Students' Anti-Gay Bias Day
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
NEW YORK � Irked by the success of the nationwide Day of Silence (search), which seeks to combat anti-gay bias in schools, conservative activists are launching a counter-event this week called the Day of Truth (search) aimed at mobilizing students who believe homosexuality is sinful.
Participating students are being offered T-shirts with the slogan "The Truth Cannot be Silenced" and cards to pass out to classmates Thursday � the day following the Day of Silence � declaring their unwillingness to condone "detrimental personal and social behavior."
The driving force behind the Day of Truth is the Alliance Defense Fund (search), a Christian legal group that has opposed same-sex marriage and challenged restrictions on religious expression in public schools. The event is endorsed by several influential conservative organizations, including the Christian ministry Focus on the Family (search) and the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Mike Johnson, an Alliance Defense Fund attorney from Shreveport, La., said organizers were unsure how many students would participate in the Day of Truth, but expressed hope it would grow in coming years as more people learned about it.
Johnson said the event is meant to be "peaceful and respectful," but made clear it is motivated by belief that homosexuality is wrong. "You can call it sinful or destructive � ultimately it's both," he said.
The event is designed as a riposte to the Day of Silence, which began on a small scale in 1996 and is now observed by tens of thousands of students annually at hundreds of schools and colleges across the country.
Most Day of Silence participants go through the school day without speaking � a tactic for drawing attention to the isolation and harassment experienced by many gay students.
Since 2001, Day of Silence observances have been coordinated by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) (search), a New York-based organization that also has worked to support gay-straight alliances at high schools across the country.
Kevin Jennings, GLSEN's executive director, said he doubted the Day of Truth would gain a following and stature of any significance.
"The Day of Silence was an event conceived of by students themselves in response to a very real problem of bullying and harassment they saw on their campuses," Jennings said. "The Day of Truth is a publicity stunt cooked up by a conservative organization with a political agenda; it's an effort by adults to manipulate some kids."
Underlying the dueling events is a fundamental disagreement over the rationale for the Day of Silence. GLSEN and its allies say the silent protest is specifically targeting harassment of gay students, while the Alliance Defense Fund and other conservatives say GLSEN's agenda is to broaden national acceptance of homosexuality.
"No one is for bullying and harassment," Johnson said. "But that's cloaking their real message � that homosexuality is good for society."
Echoing the stance taken by defense fund lawyers in several court cases, Johnson said teachers and students critical of homosexuality have been pressured to stifle their views while at school. They cite the case of a San Diego-area high school student, Chase Harper, who was disciplined last year for refusing to change out of a T-shirt that read, "Homosexuality is Shameful."
"We wouldn't have come up with the Day of Truth if Christian kids hadn't been silenced in the first place," Johnson said. "The public school is part of the free market of ideas � if the other side is going to advance their point of view, it's only fair for the Christian perspective to present their view, too."
The Alliance Defense Fund is anticipating that some students who try to participate in the Day of Truth may be admonished by school staff. Its resource kit includes a hot-line number, with attorneys on call to provide legal advice about free-speech rights on school grounds.
Jennings said GLSEN had no ambitions to keep schools free of all criticism of homosexuality.
"There always should be a place in our schools for respectful differences of opinion � we don't expect everyone to agree, or even to like each other," he said.
But he questioned whether the Alliance Defense Fund and its allies were committed to constructive dialogue.
"I don't think they believe in pluralism," he said. "They feel they have the truth and everybody else should buy into it."
According to GLSEN, 84 percent of gay and lesbian high school students experiences verbal harassment on a regular basis at school, and 40 percent experience physical harassment. |
|
|
|
Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:25 pm |
|
I'm skeptical about these anti-Gay people doing this...It's extreme. Most likely, after a minute amount of thought, I'll come to the conclusion that it's wrong.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
|
|
|
Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:26 pm |
|
Tsss, what's the big deal if it's a non-violent protest, and it's intention isn't to cause "problems" for homosexuals? Or are we back to "you can only have a view if it agrees with mine"?
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
|
|
|
Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:39 pm |
|
This is rather bullyish though. I mean what are they going to do, or advocate on this day? That being gay is wrong, they are a pestilence to society, and just cause more persecution for gays...as if it isn't already bad enough? This is just adding fuel to the hate that already exists among many against homosexuals, and it is wrong and disturbing...perhaps mostly because these people call themselves a Christian group. The actions this group is taking don't seem at all Christian to me.
|
|
|
Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:43 pm |
|
Tsss, if it is what they believe, and they are demonstrating peacefully, there is nothing wrong with it. So they believe homsexuality is wrong, I didn't read anywhere what it said they felt about the people? That's something a lot of people miss, it seems. Christians (in this group), don't hate the people...
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
|
|
|
Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:45 pm |
|
I didn't say they couldn't have their own opinions, but the way they are going about this is completly wrong. Aggrivating, already widespread prejudice and persecution of gays? I am not saying it is wrong legally...it is peaceful, but morally, I do feel that it is. Nothing is going to be accomplished by this except encouraging more homophobia and hatred.
|
|
|
Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:48 pm |
|
How is it aggrivating if it's peaceful?
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
|
|
|
Seven of Nine
Sammie's Mammy
Joined: 16 Jun 2001
Posts: 7871
Location: North East England
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:55 pm |
|
You can have peaceful protests about most things, and it won't offend me. I may not always agree with the issue, but so long as it's peaceful, and remains that way, what's the problem? (Obviously there are exceptions, but most things I have this view for.)
|
|
|
Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:04 pm |
|
| Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms wrote: | 2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
a) freedom of conscience and religion;
b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
d) freedom of association. |
It's all right with me. 
I do think, however, that it has the potential to cause a negative impact. They might have a right to protest homosexuality, but this will definitely draw fire from supporters of homosexuality. As long as it remains peaceful and is not discriminatory, then I see it as a perfectly legitimate diversity of views.
|
|
|
Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:11 pm |
|
I still think "supporting" or "opposing" homosexuality is stupid. They're just people. Some people are homosexual. It's as simple as that. That said, I fully support the right of students (and anyone else) to voice their opinions or demonstrate as they see fit. I do, however, wish to stress that it is the law's responsibility to protect everyone in these cases. If there are rights violations, on either side, people need to be charged.
|
|
|
Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:20 pm |
|
They're not attacking the people. Let's keep that in mind.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
|
|
|
voy416
Captain
Joined: 28 Oct 2001
Posts: 631
Location: Rock Bottom
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:01 pm |
|
I think it is wrong no matter how many people say it is peaceful...that is as peaceful as an arrow going threw your head. wow i do not like gays, lets make a club oh sorry  my mistake a peaceful assembly. come on they have T-shirts because they call them self's a Christian Group nobody and i mean nobody is going to mess with them because it puts religion in it soooo ya know religion is like a big RED flag nobody has the guts to stand up.
This is my opinion and I leave it at that
-------signature-------
To Be Are Not To Be......Is That Really The
Question
|
|
|
Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:05 pm |
|
So the side supporting A can have their protest, but the side opposing cannot. Gotcha.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
|
|
|
zero
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 4566
Location: Texas
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:11 pm |
|
I wish people would not label themselves. The gay people have these "GAY" things, and then the blacks have the same... and so on. They are only bringing all of this attention themselves by trying to isolate what they are protesting, or petitioning for whatever their reason.
But If they want to be included in society they should stop making themselves outcasts and not have a lable for themselves.
|
|
|
Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:20 pm |
|
| zero wrote: | | But If they want to be included in society they should stop making themselves outcasts and not have a lable for themselves. |
I disagree. People should be open about who they are. I do not think people should necessarily "label" themselves (I don't) but they should be ready to openly express their opinions and who they are, diversity is better than conformity. A mosaic is better than a melting pot.
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.
|
|
|
Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:26 pm |
|
| zero wrote: | I wish people would not label themselves. The gay people have these "GAY" things, and then the blacks have the same... and so on. They are only bringing all of this attention themselves by trying to isolate what they are protesting, or petitioning for whatever their reason.
But If they want to be included in society they should stop making themselves outcasts and not have a lable for themselves. |
BOTH sides should be allowed to express their views. Let's have the debate! I'm open to it.
-------signature-------
"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
|
|
|
zero
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 4566
Location: Texas
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:29 pm |
|
^They complain about "the way they get treated" But then they go and add more attention to themselves. It is retarted.
Like the african americans... some have protests about slavery. But uhh.. hello, that is so over with. And it should be time they get over it, maybe that is why people still have negative feelings twoards them because they continue to isolate themselves with the rest of the cultures.
( I probably make no sense! But it makes sense in my lil head) 
|
|
|
Mikado
Commander
Joined: 29 Jul 2003
Posts: 439
Location: *sigh* California. *grumble.*
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:33 pm |
|
| Theresa wrote: | | Tsss, if it is what they believe, and they are demonstrating peacefully, there is nothing wrong with it. So they believe homsexuality is wrong, I didn't read anywhere what it said they felt about the people? That's something a lot of people miss, it seems. Christians (in this group), don't hate the people... |
I'm sorry, I don't agree with that. You can't tell me, that you hate homosexuality, and then in the same breath say, "But hey Mikado. I don't hate you. I just hate what you are."
No, that doesn't work. As a gay indivual, I find that a cop-out. A way to cover one's back, and act like they don't hate. When in truth, they do. Yeah, the protest is fine. But as a gay person, I feel attacked by it. As I'm sure at least more than two straight people felt when the day of silence was started.
Both sides, have the right to protest. And both sides are going to impact society on the way they protest. One side is going to make it easier for gay people, the other side is going to make it harder.
But I so don't agree with the statement that, "The day of silence is cloaking their real message - that homosexuality is good for society".
That's a line of utter stupidity. Homosexuality, and heterosexuality both are neither good nor bad for society.
Being sexually healthy is, however. And when I say that, I don't mean people need to go out and have sex. I'm saying people need to be secure, happy, and healthy in their sexuality. Whether it be gay or straight. No one has the right to say that either way is right.
By the way, I think that one's sexuality is a personal matter and doesn't need to be flaunted, whether you're gay or straight. I just think that people should have the right to be happy with who they choose to be with.
Last edited by Mikado on Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:00 am; edited 1 time in total
-------signature-------
Hi, I'm Mikado.
Because it makes me giggle.
|
|
|
Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:35 pm |
|
| zero wrote: | ^They complain about "the way they get treated" But then they go and add more attention to themselves. It is retarted.
Like the african americans... some have protests about slavery. But uhh.. hello, that is so over with. And it should be time they get over it, maybe that is why people still have negative feelings twoards them because they continue to isolate themselves with the rest of the cultures.
( I probably make no sense! But it makes sense in my lil head) |
No, I understand your point and agree to an extent. There are those, often labelled (there's our word again) as special-interest or lobbyist groups, who seek to further political or personal ambitions by playing on the capital of a minority trait.
But I don't think that people should necessarily "get over it." For example, on July 1, 1923, the Canadian government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. It banned any Chinese person who was not a student, merchant, or diplomat, from entering Canada. Until this discriminatory immigration policy was repealed in 1947, only eight Chinese were admitted into Canada.
For Canadians, not only is this a black mark on history, but it is extremely ironic. July 1 is Canada Day (formerly known then as Dominion Day), which is the day Canadians celebrate their independence (when we became a Dominion with responsible government rather than just a colony). To Chinese Canadians, it is sometimes known as "Humiliation Day."
Mistakes like these in history should be remembered, because that's what history is for: past experiences to guide the decisions of the future. They should not be harped upon, nor should current administrations be blamed for mistakes of the past (after all, an administration makes enough mistakes itself, it doesn't need past mistakes on its shoulders too  ). That's what celebrations of cultural triumphs and losses are for: Black History Month, St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest; these are just some examples of ways to remember the best of times and the worst of times.
|
|
|
zero
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 4566
Location: Texas
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:46 pm |
|
oh, I didn't mean to forget what happened back then. Just for them to stop trying to use it to make people feel sorry for them. It does not matter what minority, or gay or whatever... I don't give out pitty. I just wish we could all be one people. Instead of different races and/or prefrence of sex. But that will never happen because we have these groups making scenes and making sure they stand out.
|
|
|
luit14
Commodore
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 2232
Location: Come on in HEEERE! :P
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:48 pm |
|
| Mikado wrote: | | I'm sorry, I don't agree with that. You can't tell me, that you hate homosexuality, and then in the same breath say, "But hey Mikado. I don't hate you. I just hate what you are." |
i disagree with that, what if u hated like say baseball, and im a baseball player, does that mean u have to hate me because i play baseball?
|
|
|
Zeke Zabertini
Captain
Joined: 13 Sep 2002
Posts: 4832
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:48 pm |
|
People have individuality. I don't want a society of like-minded zombies. I think it's unfair to say "you're entitled to your preferences, but you shouldn't display them openly."
|
|
|
Hitchhiker
Rear Admiral
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 3514
Location: Ontario, Canada
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:50 pm |
|
| Zeke Zabertini wrote: | | People have individuality. I don't want a society of like-minded zombies. I think it's unfair to say "you're entitled to your preferences, but you shouldn't display them openly." |
I agree completely. It would be boring, and scary, if everyone were the same. I understand the wish to conform, but I don't think the outcome is desirable.
(I mean, look at where it got the Borg . . .)
|
|
|
Mikado
Commander
Joined: 29 Jul 2003
Posts: 439
Location: *sigh* California. *grumble.*
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:51 pm |
|
With all due respect, I don't like baseball. But then there are few sports I like, I think watching them is a waste of personal time. But my point is baseball is different from being gay.
You're not playing baseball twenty-four seven. I'm gay twenty-four hours of the day, seven days of the week. Thirty days a month. You take off your basecall cap, and put away your gloves at the end of the night. I don't. Being gay is apart of my very soul.
Is baseball that important to you? That you aren't you without it? That your completely another person if you weren't a baseball player?
Watch Fever-Pitch, in seeing it, that arguement is very weak for me.
Edit: And on a thought, I agree that people shouldn't be told not openly show their preferences. I just think it shouldn't be flaunted. With people screaming, "Oh look at me, I'm gay." Or, "I'm so right because I'm straight."
But then, I am both a private person. And was told by my father when I came out to him, that I wasn't to tell the people who lived around us for my own safety. That was... like six months back. I dunno, I'd have to ask Sydi for the dates. :/ Yes, she is my memory.
-------signature-------
Hi, I'm Mikado.
Because it makes me giggle.
|
|
|
zero
Rear Admiral
Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 4566
Location: Texas
|
| Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:55 pm |
|
| Zeke Zabertini wrote: | | People have individuality. I don't want a society of like-minded zombies. I think it's unfair to say "you're entitled to your preferences, but you shouldn't display them openly." |
Well yeah, Of cours enot. I want individuality as well. But I don't want races or gays/lesbians to group themselves together and try to protest here and there, cause a scene... blahblah because then people start to dislike them even more.
I want world peace!!! does that help? lol
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
Star Trek �, in all its various forms, are trademarks & copyrights of Paramount Pictures
This site has no official connection with Star Trek or Paramount Pictures
Site content/Site design elements owned by Morphy and is meant to only be an archive/Tribute to STV.com
|
Search
FAQ
Log in
