Gay of Silence | Teen Ink

Gay of Silence

July 16, 2008
By Anonymous

I participated in the national Day of Silence for gay rights this year, and I realized that people's ignorance will never cease to amaze me. With a piece of paper taped to my shirt explaining the cause, I remained completely silent the entire day, listening and taking in other student's jokes and ridicule. My peers were yelling across the classroom at each other about how all gay people should be shipped off to a deserted island. Even some of the teachers were making jokes and being mean to students who were participating.
I find this ridiculous. You're entitled to your opinion, but so am I. Taking a vow of silence for one day is not hurting anyone, however harassing someone while they can't even defend themselves is.
To all of the straight people who do not support homo/bisexuality, please try and see it from another point of view. Imagine that being straight was not accepted, that you got mercilessly made fun of, or even beaten or killed for being attracted to someone, or being in love. Imagine that you lived in a country where you couldn't legally marry someone you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. Imagine you always dreamed of having a family, but people were fighting to make it impossible for you to adopt a baby.
For some people, this is reality.


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This article has 2 comments.


lita5567 said...
on Sep. 27 2008 at 7:26 am
I have been apart of Day Of Silence once and the experince brought tears to my eyes. I am openly Gay and I have never been teased, tormented or harassed about it. I knew we had a struggle and us, gays and our loving supporters, would have to fight, but I never thought the battle would be this hard. I guess people just can't accept true love.

on Aug. 20 2008 at 8:29 pm
I participated in the DOS too and you're right some people had negative reactions. the next time you participate in DOS. report harassment to school officials and if possible provide witnesses. that's what we did. i hope that those people ignorance and stupidity doesn't stop you from participating again. because the whole point is to stop that hate yeah? as a member of the GLBT community i thank u