is anyone else participating in day of silence tomorrow?

No, we're not, but I wish we were.

you should do it anyways. do you not have a gsa? my school's really big so we have poretty much everything.

We have a GSA, but I've never bothered to join. I don't know if it's participating anyway.

No GSA here, nothing that has to be too organized to exist. I've been cheated out of my high school experience, but I don't mind. ^_^;;

My high school had a GSA and I was a part of that club but I'm in college now and in this little hick town, GSA doesn't exist. I didn't know the DoS was tomorrow, until I saw this post. And I'm very glad I did.

Tomorrow, I will be participating in the DoS. :D

OKk I will bite. whats the day of silence for and what is GSA?

OKk I will bite. whats the day of silence for and what is GSA?

GSA is short for "Gay-Straight Alliance." Basically it's an national club/group where homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual people get together and advocate better relations between the gay and straight communities. Thus the word "alliance."

The Day of Silence is a day where people who support the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender community spend the day in silence. This is to demonstrate the silence that many people of this discriminated community live with every day because of the intolerance/hate towards their lifestyles.

If anyone has anything to add to my definition/clarification, go right ahead.

when I was in high school there was no such thing as a GSA, and that wasnt that long ago. I dont remember anyone being openly gay in HS either. there were those who we all susspected of being gay, but no one ever fessed up. needless to say, I will not be takign part in the high school day of silencce, as I will be out pouring concrete for a new stream gage.

Gee Trav, aren't you glad you asked?

Maybe they should just make a EGS day{everyday gay silence} See if the gays never spoke we wouldn't have a problem.

Now before you all start getting pi**ed at me I'm only kidding.

Can I ask, how is being silent going to help, all I've ever heard is speak out and get the point across?

Especially since you can't tell anyone why you're being silent!

Maybe high schools have really changed in the 15 years I've been freed, but the only people that would've involved themselves in such a thing would be the ones that were always acting weird to begin with, which really undermines the message. You know the ones that wear old army coats with "The Cure" written in magic marker on the back. The ones that would randomly shave their heads every so often for shock value.

ya, the wierdos who think morrisey is a good singer

Originally posted by LionelHutz
Especially since you can't tell anyone why you're being silent!

Most often (at the schools and such) people will be informed of the upcoming Day of Silence to get people involved who aren't actually part of the GSA club for one reason or another. Also, like most schools, there are posters and little flyers hanging in the halls that explain what the DoS is. Finally, students will usually have little cards with a message written on it saying why they're doing what they're doing. I don't remember if it was an "official" card or just written up by one of the GSA officers (or whoever is organizing the DoS).

Originally posted by LionelHutz
Maybe high schools have really changed in the 15 years I've been freed, but the only people that would've involved themselves in such a thing would be the ones that were always acting weird to begin with

I can tell you that I'm definitely not "weird" by any social standards. The DoS was actually pretty popular at my high school with 60-70 people (from all of the different social groups, not just the "gay" group) openly participating (that's wearing wearing black and most often drawing a big black X over the mouth). So popular was it that members of the local church stood outside school grounds protesting against the DoS via pamphlets and prayer.

Originally posted by mad dog
Can I ask, how is being silent going to help, all I've ever heard is speak out and get the point across?

Well, most often is has a greater effect at schools (because much of the day consists of social/verbal interaction) when more than just a handful of people participate. I'm sure most schools have the "odd-bobs" but when you have some of the football team, some of the more "popular" people, and just other regular ol' normal people dressed in black and not speaking, it tends to make people think and it does make a statement (keep in mind we aren't trying to change the world in one day, we're just showing our support for the LGBT community). I for one remember by DoS back in high school as rather gloomy. But then again, I lived in San Diego at the time and attended a charter high school that wasn't part of the actual school district. We didn't have as much crime as our sister high schools (such as Santana High and Granite Hills -- both of which had school shootings) nor were we an overly intolerant bunch. Thus, we had more people participating.

I hope all that helps. :)

any excuse to get out of answering questions in class huh? :D

Originally posted by Travh20
any excuse to get out of answering questions in class huh? :D

Actually, since some people do have to talk in class (say they have a speech or they're called on to answer questions) students are allowed to talk for academic reasons. It's basic social interaction participating students try not to do.

sounds like this GSA runs a real tight ship :rolleyes:

I think this indeed is an interesting concept. Wow....wish they had one for Christians.

what has a christian ever done to you? honestly, when was the last time a christian got in your face? I have never had that happen, except for a few people coming to the door, which really isnt the horror some people make it out to be. I think its far more forceful to have gay this day and gay that day. everything gay. you hear about gay 100 times more then you do about christians. the only ones who insist on talking about christians are peple like you when you keep ringing them up in order to show how bossy they are.

Originally posted by Travh20
what has a christian ever done to you? honestly, when was the last time a christian got in your face? I have never had that happen, except for a few people coming to the door, which really isnt the horror some people make it out to be. I think its far more forceful to have gay this day and gay that day. everything gay. you hear about gay 100 times more then you do about christians. the only ones who insist on talking about christians are peple like you when you keep ringing them up in order to show how bossy they are.

Are you talking to me??

ya, your the one who brought up christians, so i guess I was

Hold up there Sparky......I was somewhat trying to make a joke in the fact that these days kids in school are having "let's all get along" groups for straights and gays...and not 40 miles north of where I sit, a little boy was sent home from school for passing out candy canes that had a religious saying on it....not to mention another kid that was sent home for wearing green and red! So I'm thinking you misunderstand where I am coming from. A day of silence for what!!! For the right to be gay?? They have more rights than I do. I can't even hang a north star on my office door at Christmas time....or not to mention the day my supervisor came into my office to reprimand me for saying in a staff meeting..."Man I prayed a lot for funding of this grant....I hope we get it!"

Name one right gays have that you do not.

OK, sorry, i took hat you said the wqrong way, I am just so used to everyone bashing christians constantly on this board I instinctivly get into defensive posture. my apologies.

Originally posted by BorgHunter
Name one right gays have that you do not.


name one right that I have that gays dont

Originally posted by BorgHunter
Name one right gays have that you do not.

Gays can have a day of silence in public schools and a GSA or whatever....

Originally posted by Travh20
OK, sorry, i took hat you said the wqrong way, I am just so used to everyone bashing christians constantly on this board I instinctivly get into defensive posture. my apologies.

ya idiot

Originally posted by Travh20
name one right that I have that gays dont
The right to marry the one they love (except in a few states).
Originally posted by Core
Gays can have a day of silence in public schools and a GSA or whatever....
You can organize a heterosexual day of silence, if you wish. That's your right.

But that wasn't the issue was it Borg????

really, I didnt know there was an ammendment guarenteeing anybody the right to marry "the one they love". and she was talking about how christians cant have a day in school where everyone talks about it and feels all kumbaya together, not hetero, and besides, if heteros did that it would be labled gay bashing, the same as a white pride day would compare to black pride day

Originally posted by Core
But that wasn't the issue was it Borg????
Well, I was responding to your answer to my question...it seems like the issue to me. The guestion was "What rights do gays have that you do not?" You said that organizing a day of silence was one, I said you could do that too.
Originally posted by Travh20
really, I didnt know there was an ammendment guarenteeing anybody the right to marry "the one they love". and she was talking about how christians cant have a day in school where everyone talks about it and feels all kumbaya together, not hetero, and besides, if heteros did that it would be labled gay bashing, the same as a white pride day would compare to black pride day
I never said there was, I was just giving you a right that you have that gays do not. That was what you said to do.

As for what she was talking about, I don't see how that makes any difference. Christains can do that if they want. And if they did, SO WHAT? The issue is, do they have the right? The answer is yes. If people call bigots bigots for having bigoted holidays, I don't see how one can complain.

Let's just do this for fun...shall we.....Embyr I'm using your post I hope you don't mind....I'm just trying to prove a point.


Posted by Embyr: (but I will put my words in "quotes")

Most often (at the schools and such) people will be informed of the upcoming Day of Silence for "Christians" to get people involved who aren't actually part "of them" for one reason or another. Also, like most schools, there are posters and little flyers hanging in the halls that explain what "christianity really is". Finally, students will usually have little cards with a message written on it ("BETTER NOT USE A CANDY CANE") saying why they're doing what they're doing. I don't remember if it was an official card or just written up by one of the "christian" officers

Sounds fine to me...

Originally posted by BorgHunter
As for what she was talking about, I don't see how that makes any difference. Christains can do that if they want. And if they did, SO WHAT? The issue is, do they have the right? The answer is yes. If people call bigots bigots for having bigoted holidays, I don't see how one can complain.

But that's simply not true Borg...we cannot. More and more everyday we cannot.

http://www.wildershow.com/pisd.htm

Originally posted by Core
http://www.wildershow.com/pisd.htm
I will agree with you on one thing: religious freedom goes both ways. The whole candy cane thing was incredibly stupid. No one said fundie Christians have a monopoly on stupidity.

Btw, to suggest that other people's rights should be curtailed because yours are is a fallacy: Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right (http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/two-wrongs-make-a-right.html)

borg is full of shit, if a christian appreciation day was organized at a public school near him he would shit. and borg, a right that gays have that christian do not is to organize a day to honor themselves at a public school. last I saw the constitution said that the right to freedom of religion shall not be infringed upon, yet any christian talk or display by a student at a public school is punced upon with a vengance.

What? That's your response? It was a fucking candy cane with a story.....it was Christmas. He wasn't carrying a Bible for goodness sakes...or standing in the corridor yelling "BELIEVE OR DIE IN HELL ...ESPECIALLY YOU LITTLE JEWISH BOY....YOU'LL BE THE FIRST!" He just wanted to share a story. Just like I would love Whammy to share with me around a holy time in the year. But he's a stupid fundie Christian. Yeah...like I said....I wish we had those groups and meetings for Christians.

Originally posted by Core
What? That's your response? It was a fucking candy cane with a story.....it was Christmas. He wasn't carrying a Bible for goodness sakes...or standing in the corridor yelling "BELIEVE OR DIE IN HELL ...ESPECIALLY YOU LITTLE JEWISH BOY....YOU'LL BE THE FIRST!" He just wanted to share a story. Just like I would love Whammy to share with me around a holy time in the year. But he's a stupid fundie Christian. Yeah...like I said....I wish we had those groups and meetings for Christians.
You jackass, read my post. I was saying what that school did was wrong.
Originally posted by Travh20
borg is full of shit, if a christian appreciation day was organized at a public school near him he would shit. and borg, a right that gays have that christian do not is to organize a day to honor themselves at a public school. last I saw the constitution said that the right to freedom of religion shall not be infringed upon, yet any christian talk or display by a student at a public school is punced upon with a vengance.
Really? Our school has both a Christian club and a Choir club. I have no qualms with them meeting, holding public functions (of course assuming they're not mandatory), etc. Just like I would if you insert "gay" instead of "Christian".

ya, borghunter, protector of christians rights everywhere :rolleyes: what the hell is the connection between the christian and choir clubs anyway?

Originally posted by Travh20
ya, borghunter, protector of christians rights everywhere :rolleyes: what the hell is the connection between the christian and choir clubs anyway?
Trav, I don't care if you're Christian, Jewish, or atheist...we all should have the same rights. That's what the First Amendment says.

And a Choir club sings Christian hymns, ergo, it is a Christian club.

do the christian club members have little safe rooms scattered all over campus with little croses on the door?

Originally posted by Travh20
do the christian club members have little safe rooms scattered all over campus with little croses on the door?
Um...no...

HAHAHAHAHA! I'm a jackass! You weren't very clear in your post in that you still dogged the Christian. And I never said that gays should not have rights Borg, I was just saying that I wish we had those rights too. I'm glad your school has those groups. In Dallas and surrounding areas...we do not have those rights.

Originally posted by Core
Gays can have a day of silence in public schools and a GSA or whatever....

People have the right support religious beliefs on that very same day, at public schools, by praying and passing out pamphlets -- as determined by my former high school.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Originally posted by Travh20
name one right that I have that gays dont

Gays (and heterosexual couples) who are involved in established domestic relationships, don't have the medical power of attorney for their loved ones. Heterosexual married couples, however, do have that right.

As an example (to clarify), say Betty and Martha have been together for 32 years and Betty, who was has just fallen into a coma due to a brain aneurysm, is living off of life support. She has no children, and, at the age of 62, has no surviving family. Now Martha, who has been her life partner, is the only person Betty has. However, Martha cannot decide for Betty what kind of treatment the hospital can give. Ultimately, it'll be up to the hospital board. Compare that to say, a man and his wife who have been together for 32 years, also. If the wife fell into a coma, the husband could decide to keep her alive or take her off life support, no matter what the hospital wanted to do -- because the husband has medical power of attorney.

Medical power of attorney is a right gays (and actually heterosexual couples, too), who are involved in domestic partnerships don't have. Many rights that people either aren't aware of or take for granted are denied much in the same way. The only way to give these rights to couples (both heterosexual and homosexual domestic partners) is to extend them via legislation which gives domestic partners all the rights guaranteed to married couples.

Also, as a side note, although I support the LGBT community and support their fight for the ability to marry, I do think that marriage is a privilege that should be extended to all -- not a right.

Originally posted by Core
Let's just do this for fun...shall we.....Embyr I'm using your post I hope you don't mind....I'm just trying to prove a point.


Posted by Embyr: (but I will put my words in "quotes")

Most often (at the schools and such) people will be informed of the upcoming Day of Silence for "Christians" to get people involved who aren't actually part "of them" for one reason or another. Also, like most schools, there are posters and little flyers hanging in the halls that explain what "christianity really is". Finally, students will usually have little cards with a message written on it ("BETTER NOT USE A CANDY CANE") saying why they're doing what they're doing. I don't remember if it was an official card or just written up by one of the "christian" officers

Actually, the Christian club at my school was pretty prolific, too. And they did much the same thing you listed above. They weren't oppressed and Christians weren't hated.

I think it might depend on where you live, then. My school was pretty open and accepting of both gay and religious issues. And both of those groups didn't clash at my school, either. They tolerated each other and there wasn't open, outspoken hate for either or.

Man I need to MOVE!!!!! Thank you so much for that post Embyr. Seriously. That gave me so much hope.

the problem with this whole argument against DoS (and frankly, I have nothing against Christina groups at school, we have bible, club, they can do anything as long as it's respectul, as far as I'm concerned) is that it's against homophobia. all of the gay students at my school that I nkow well enough to hear about this type of thing have been physically threatened at school becasue of being openly gay. it's a day to try and fight that. people are really intrigued when usually ourspoken, loud people (like me) are queit, and we hand them little printed out cards about the casue when they ask. my school provides very little protection for gay students, and they need it. DoS silence is to stand up for their right to go to school without the fear of being harrassed, and atleast at my school, it's a very importnat issue.

Originally posted by Travh20
ya, the wierdos who think morrisey is a good singer


what is your thing with Morrissey anyways Trav? stop picking on the Moz, he's the man.
anyways, I have to say that I'm pretty normal. I don't exactly stand out from the crowd much at my school. and a lot of the people who did DoS were the kind of people who spend their lives trying to stay with the crowd.

Originally posted by WhammyBar
I have nothing against Christina groups at school,

Really? I think I'd have a hard time taking Ms. Aguilera's fans seriously? ;)

Originally posted by Core
Man I need to MOVE!!!!! Thank you so much for that post Embyr. Seriously. That gave me so much hope.

No problem. :thumbs: