Day of silence for gays
by Laura Barbre
The Metropolitan
Silent protests hung in the air when gay students and members of the
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Student Services (GLBTSS) at Auraria
joined 250,000 other students across the nation last Wednesday in a day
of silence to protest gay discrimination.
The Day of Silence was founded in 1996 at the University of Virginia
and has since spread to more than 1,900 schools across the United States.
According to the Day of Silence Web site (http://www.dayofsilence.org),
participants take a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the
discrimination and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students.
In addition to taking vows of silence, students at Auraria carried explanatory
cards to show to friends and professors and set up a table on campus to
encourage discussion.
Metro student Erin Durban, who has been responsible for Auraria's involvement
in the national campaign for the past three years, said some of the participating
students were met with resistance in their classes.
"One of my professors said I wasn't allowed to participate (in the
protest) while I was in class," Durban said.
Karen Bensen, Director of GLBTSS, agreed that not all the professors
were OK with students' vows of silence.
"This whole thing makes the faculty a little uncomfortable,"
said Bensen, who spent the Day of Silence in her office counseling students
who needed to talk about their experience.
"Our office is a designated safe space for students to come and
talk," Durban said.
Metro student Zia Klamm participated in The National Day of Silence by
volunteering to chaperone the Night of Noise dance that night at Rainbow
Alley, a local hub for gay, lesbian and transgender youths.
"These movements are important because people are out in the open
saying they're not ashamed and they're not afraid to be visible,"
Klamm said. "When people put themselves out in the open it allows
others to come forward knowing they're not alone."
According to Klamm, about 70 middle school and high school youths finished
their vows of silence together at the dance, which was organized by local
high school students. The youth also discussed their experiences with
discrimination then celebrated noisily.
Klamm said she was very impressed by the youths who organized and participated
in the Night of Noise.
"These kids are being courageous without a lot of support and sometimes
with a lot of hostility," Klamm said.
Klamm said she plans to volunteer for the fifth year in a row at the
Auraria Queer Prom, which will be held in the Tivoli Turnhalle May 15.
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