I am SO proud of Cedar Falls Gay-Straight Alliance students (Day of Silence)

[Debi]

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/04/26/news/metro/10296646.txt

C.F. students join in silent protest against harassment

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The event at the high school went largely unnoticed by the outside world until this year. A letter to the editor in The Courier urged parents to keep students home from school Friday, the Day of Silence. Several letters were written in response, arguing that the event merely protests harassment and doesn't promote homosexuality.

Briana McGeough, a bisexual Cedar Falls student who helped organize the event on that campus, said the controversy generated more interest. In 2007, 56 students registered to participate, and McGeough expected more Friday.

"I think the entire controversy around it this year has helped us; it got us more attention," McGeough said. "The day of silence is a day of protest against the harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, not a promotion of GLBT lifestyles."

On Friday morning, McGeough and members of the school Gay Straight Alliance group signed people up to participate, giving out ribbons to wear and a pre-made sign for participants to hold up to explain why they weren't speaking.

Cedar Falls High School Principal Rich Powers said students have been good about checking with school personnel on how different scenarios should be handled during the Day of Silence."We have not had a problem or a controversy in the past here with it," Powers said.

<snip>


Cedar Falls high School students who were to participate in a day of silence at the school Friday gather on a street next to the school before classes. They are, left to right, Brianna McGeough, Matt Moore, Joe Krupel, Megan Creasey, Michelle Bamber and Katie Dennler. (RICK CHASE/ COURIER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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on edit:

I can't let this post stand w/out a link to Cornfield's INCREDIBLE post over on EE! Lynday, you really are #1!

http://www.essentialestrogen.com/2008/04/unanswered_prayers.html#comments

[rurallib]

1. so wonderful to see some kids have courage

no doubt they will get grief from other students and no doubt some teachers. Kids like this keep me hopeful.

[Debi]

2. Actually they don't

CFHS is a pretty open school and with having the GSA and Harmony group the faculty and student body is pretty fair to all groups of kids.

There is a small group of students who are protesting the protest, but the school has a handle on it.

Article from the student newspaper:

http://www.cedar-falls.k12.ia.us/buildings/cfhs/hiline/features/dayofsilence.html

[Bluzmann57]

3. There was one of these at Dav. West HS too

and it degenerated into name calling. But some "religious" people started the noise. See, it seems that a kid whose parents belong to some alleged church came home and told mom and pop that West High was teaching that homosexuality was some sort of brain disorder. Anyway, these so called "religious" people came out to protest the protestors. And while no punches were thrown, I have heard from reliable sources (a former gf who works for the school district) that there were words. But the good kids won out in the end. The young people who were originally going to observe the "day of silence" were out front making their point, while the North Pine "Christian" church asses were laughed at, for the most part. For one thing, it was raining. Why stand out in the rain when you are an asshole? Oh wait...never mind. There is a link to this story at www.qctimes.com but you will have to search for it. I don't feel like typing the entire thing out at this time. It was in Saturday's edition.

[Debi]

4. Here ya go Bluzemann

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2008/04/25/news/local/doc481218ad4f896148107088.txt

Boy, those protesting the protest had to take a few turns and thought back roads to get to their conclusion that this was a school sponsored day of celebrating and promoting homosexuality :crazy:

*sigh* Glad to hear the students kept their cool.