To me the Day of Silence recognizes people from all walks of life who have suffered and continue to suffer from hate, bullying and intimidation. I remember as a freshman, seeing chalk-outlined figures on the floor of the lobby, being moved by the horrific accounts of the hate crimes. I am glad that this exhibition is continuing today. The relentless efforts of the Gay-Straight Alliance, especially Junior Zach Stahl and English teacher Martha Noone, have allowed this national event to occur at Marshall. The Day of Silence is not enough to fight de-facto and de-jure anti-LGBT prejudices. The most relevant issue to Marshall students is the blocking of LGBT Internet sites in Prince William County. In FCPS, blocked internet material includes anything that is “offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole.” Using these standards, it can be deduced that this Northern Virginia school district asserts that LGBT informational websites cause resentful displeasure to the adult community. This mind-set is an example of LGBT intolerance and how it permeates even local legislature. The Day of Silence and further awareness of these issues are the first steps toward change and acceptance.
2011-06-09