Contributors
Sharon Hughes- Contributor

A researcher, writer and public speaker Sharon is the President and Executive Director of The Center for Changing Worldviews, a non-profit corporation founded for the purpose of increasing the conservative, pro-family voice in a predominantly liberal society. Sharon produces and hosts Changing Worldviews TALK Radio which is the media outreach of The Center, and is heard Monday, Wednesday and Friday on KDIA AM1640 San Francisco/Vallejo and online daily at Oneplace.com. Sharon has worked to promote civic responsibility on the grassroots level since 1992 through various organizations such as Eagle Forum, so that America will continue to be a land of liberty, respect for human dignity and family integrity, as well as public and private virtue. For further information on Sharon and The Center go to www.changingworldviews.com or contact her at sharon@changingworldviews.com [go to Hughes index]

'Day of Silence' - Just a Foot in the Door
The Gay Agenda Alive and Well on School Campuses…
[Sharon Hughes] 4/21/04


Today (Wednesday, April 21st) will see the annual 'Day of Silence' observed on close to 2,000 junior high, high school, college and university campuses across America. This project of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is an adult generated, student-led activity where "those who support making anti-LGBT bias unacceptable in schools take a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment -- in effect, the silencing -- experienced by LGBT students and their allies." However, while junior high and high school campuses may only observe the 'Day of Silence' college and universities take it much further.

Harvard University has designated the entire month of April 2004 as "Gaypril" month, hosted by the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters Alliance on campus, which includes gay pride celebrations, a panel on sadomasochism, 'lobbying' for gender-segregated bathrooms including showing a documentary, "Toilet Training", the popular 'Day of Silence', and more, all for the purpose of addressing "homophobia, biphobia and transphobia."
[more]

Michigan State University's Pride week includes a Drag Show, a Speak-Out and Kiss-In at the Administration building in addition to observing the Day of Silence. Not only that but this campus boasts a Gay Faculty, Staff and Graduate Student Associaton which sponsors activities such as the Borders Crossing one day conference "designed to examine critical questions raised by the interlocking nature of oppressions in LBGT contexts." And students entering the teacher education program at San Diego State University must take a course on multicultural education that requires them to take "cultural plunges," rather than tests.Those include taking trips to homosexual bars, and identifying themselves publicly as gay or lesbian -- even if they are not -- to better understand what it feels like to be different. [more]

Last Spring, on the beautiful campus of Western Washington University, the Sexual Awareness Center hosted its 11th annual National Outdoor Intercourse Day during it's week long observance for the purpose of "helping students sort out sexuality issues." The week included condom hunts, lectures on dispelling the 'myths' about polyamory (poly = as in polygamy and amory = 'love') in other words, having sexual relationships with more than one person, showing 'award winning' pornographic films with discussions following for students to "decide for themselves how they feel about the images." [more]

This small sampling is enough to demonstrate that the gay agenda is alive and doing very well on college campuses and to give a preview of what we may one day find on high school campuses. Think that would never happen? Well, who would have thought we would be seeing these things on college and university campuses not so long ago?

The Day of Silence, according to GLSEN, has "become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression." Former California Governor, Gray Davis, got into the act and issued an official proclamation making April 10, 2002 the National Day of Silence. And it is estimated that close to 200,000 students will participate in this year's 'observance." [more]

On the 'Day of Silence' participating students are encouraged to carry cards with the following inscription on them to hand out..."Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. People who are silent today believe that laws and attitudes should be inclusive of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The day of silence is to draw attention to those who have been silenced by hatred, oppression, and prejudice. Think about the voices you are not hearing. What can you do to end the silence?"

Teachers are asked to participate by developing a silent lesson plan like showing As If It Matters or another smiliar video and having a silent journal writing exercise afterward.

Let me ask you a question: Should students be allowed to not answer their teachers or participate in classroom discussions? Should teachers be expected to provide special assignments for this 'protest'?

Better yet...where have all the parents gone? How did these activities make such an inroad? Especially on junior high and high school campuses?

With the onslaught of sexual images thrown at young people today through television, the Internet and now school, trends such as "bisexual chic" where girls experiment with lesbianism because they think it is socially fashionable, are increasing. Not to mention what I've detailed above.

But who is seriously talking to young people about the consequences of their sexual experimentation?

Every day 8,000 teens are infected with a sexually transmitted disease in America, and 1 million teenage girls will become pregnant, with the majority choosing abortion as the remedy to this "consequence."

Sexually transmitted diseases like hepatitis, chlamydia, and HIV are contracted disproportionately by males practicing homosexual behavior. A recent study by the Georgetown University's School of Nursing and Health Studies found that one in five urban gay men is battered by his partner.

Why would anyone or any school allow or promote activities with these kinds of outcomes?

Day of Silence' organizers promote gay legislation such as the Dignity for All Students Act in Florida, and sexual orientation education bills advance gay activism in the classroom.

But perhaps the most telling is the widely quoted excerpt from Michael Swift's Gay Revolutionary printed in the congressional Record, February 15-21, 1987: "We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgarities. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms .... All churches who condemn us will be closed. Our only gods are handsome young men."

What you can do: Parents can contact their local schools to ascertain if it is participating in 'Day of Silence' activities. Most schools that have gay clubs participate. Schools must honor Opt-Out forms by providing a neutral place for non-participating students. You can choose to keep your child home. Call and send letters to the principal and school board members with your concerns. Tell others so they can know and follow the same steps. CRO

© Sharon Hughes 2004 - Used with permission

§