'Scuffle' Breaks Out in Nebraska Over 'Day of Silence'

Several adults holding posters who showed up at a park near a school in Lincoln, Nebraska to protest today's 'Day of Silence' were met by some kids from the school, one of whom "ran through the middle of one of the posters," the Journal Star reports:

"The incident took place during the school’s Day of Silence, an annual event that took place in high schools across Lincoln Friday, said Gene Thompson, associate principal at Lincoln East...Thompson said three or four adults carried anti-gay posters in a public park near the school. He said more than a dozen students then began protesting the adults. The school sent administration and security staff to ensure nothing happened. The school didn’t suspend anyone, as the incident took place off school property, Thompson said."

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'Day of Silence' Met with Protests, Solidarity in Rural Washington

As you may know, today is GLSEN's 12th annual Day of Silence. Students from more than 6,800 schools across the nation are expected to take part by taking a vow of silence to raise awareness about anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. One school on which media attention is focused is Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington. Chris Monsos graduated from Mount Si in 1997. He pens the blog Hunk du Jour and works as a software engineer outside Seattle.

Around the country, lunch rooms will be a bit quieter and hallways a bit less rowdy as students in over 5,000 schools participate in the annual 'Day of Silence'. The event is designed to draw attention to anti-LGBT bullying in schools and promote learning spaces that are respectful and tolerant of all people.

In rural Snoqualmie, Washington, the Mount Si High School Gay-Straight Alliance will be taking part, but activist pastor Ken Hutcherson aims to protest the event by encircling the school with 1,000 praying Christians. Hutcherson appeared at the school in January of this year, causing controversy after he was selected to be a speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. assembly. During his appearance a teacher booed him, and another teacher asked him about the disconnect between his message of equality and his intolerance of the GLBT community.

After the encounter Rev. Hutcherson called for the firing of the two teachers who spoke out. The school offered an official apology, and the district said in a statement that "appropriate action has been taken with staff and school administration..." The district added that it does not comment on personnel matters.

Protesters of the 'Day of Silence' placed a half-page ad in the local paper, The Snoqualmie Valley Record;. They call the event too disruptive for the learning environment, when organizers attest that it is designed to be as non-disruptive as possible.

Support for the Mount Si GSA has appeared from what might have been considered an unlikely source -- another small church in the Snoqualmie Valley. Tolt Congregational UCC, a church in nearby Carnation, took out a full-page ad in the Record, reading "...we stand in solidarity with these student leaders for their efforts to make our schools safe and welcoming to all."

I spoke to Neil Lequia (below, right), a former student who is returning to Mount Si today to support students and facilitate a news conference. Lequia is the subject of a profile in today's Seattle Times.

"It's overwhelming to know that within the community we have so much encouragement and opposition," says Lequia, who began working with GLSEN when he was a student at Mount Si, helping create the GSA. "Because Tolt UCC is a Christian church, it shows that not all Christians are bad people, and they can accept everyone for their differences."

Adds Lequia: "Gay rights has become so vocally debated in the valley because its an issue that people feel they don't have to deal with. It has always been swept under the rug because there are 'no gays in the valley.'"

GSA Advisor Eric Goldhammer reports that around 200 students have taken part in the required 'Day of Silence' training meetings. Student participants are pledging to "approach the day with dignity, maturity and respect." When asked about what he is proudest of thus far, he sees students realizing that "they can make an impact on the world, even in little Snoqualmie, Washington -- they're getting an idea of what student leadership is all about."

While the protesters stand just outside of school property, what you won't see is a counter-protest. A small group of community supporters will welcome students at the gates and show their support. They intend on being gone before the expected protest crowd even arrives. GLSEN WA (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network) will also be holding an off-campus press conference to answer questions about the 'Day of Silence' and talk to the media about the importance of GSAs in schools.

Adds Lequia: "The 'Day of Silence' raises awareness of issues. It shows how people have to conceal their identity on the behalf of other people. This whole event is about anti bullying and harassment and those things happen especially in high schools. We are the people who are going to make a difference."

Related
Ex-student returns to Mount Si to support Day of Silence [seattle times]
(neil lequia image - dean rutz, seattle times)

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Larry King Tapes 'Day of Silence' PSA for Lawrence 'Larry' King

Tomorrow is GLSEN's 12th annual Day of Silence. Students from more than 6,800 schools across the nation are expected to take part by taking a vow of silence to raise awareness about anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. This year's observance has been dedicated to 14-year-old Lawrence King, who most of you know was shot and killed by one of his classmates on February 12th, because he was gay.

CNN host Larry King, who shares a name with the young victim, recorded a PSA for GLSEN (Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP). Says King in the spot: “Larry King and I share more in common than just our names. We both believe that all students should be free to be themselves without the fear of name calling, bullying or harassment."

GLSEN president Kevin Jennings told E!'s Marc Malkin that King did not hesitate when asked to record the PSA. "Larry King helps us reach the kind of mainstream audience he speaks to every night. "I don’t necessarily see this as a YouTube phenomenon, but I see this reaching a much more traditional audience."

Malkin reports that T.R. Knight is also participating in the Day of Silence ceremony at the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex in Los Angeles.

King joins Lance Bass, who released a PSA last week.

Watch King's clip, AFTER THE JUMP...

Recent Lawrence King news
Gay Coalition Calls for Lawrence King Killer to be Tried as Juvenile [tr]
Amazing Race's Kynt & Vyxsin to Sit with Lawrence King Classroom [tr]
LOGO Airs Celebrity PSA Response to Lawrence King Murder [tr]

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Lance Bass on 'Day of Silence': I'm Going to Use My Voice

Lance Bass has recorded a PSA to raise awareness about the 11th annual Day of Silence one week from today on April 25, when students across the nation will take a vow of silence to protest bullying, harassment and discrimination in schools.

This year's 'Day of Silence' is dedicated to the memory of Lawrence King.

Says Bass in the PSA, for GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network): "Everyday, thousands of students are silenced. They're silenced by fear, they're silenced for being who they are. ... They're brothers, they're sisters, they're gay, they're straight, they're you, they're me."

AFTER THE JUMP, watch a short segment about the making of the PSA in which Bass talks about his life in the closet with N'Sync and why he's speaking out.

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Isaiah Washington to Shoot PSA for GLAAD and GLSEN

Grey's Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington continues to make amends for the anti-gay slurs he hurled in the direction of castmate T.R. Knight earlier this year. Yesterday it was announced that Washington would shoot a public service announcement for GLAAD and GLSEN.

Washington met with the groups earlier this year following his red carpet outburst and as a result the groups announced an "ongoing partnership" with the actor "to combat prejudice and intolerance". It appears that partnership is beginning to bear some fruit.

At the time, GLAAD president Neil Giuliano said, "Isaiah understands that he is going to be judged by more than just his apology. He knows that his future actions – including the genuine first step that today's meeting represents – will demonstrate his sincerity in becoming part of the solution to anti-gay bigotry. We welcome the opportunity to work with him in the coming months to help improve the cultural climate faced by LGBT people across this country."

Washington's publicist Howard Bragman said that the ad will be shot in the next few weeks: "We’re gonna have — I want to say at least two versions of it at this point. We may broaden our message a little."

‘Grey’s’ Washington to do gay rights PSA [ap]
Isaiah Washington To Lecture You About The Importance Of Not Hurling Hurtful Slurs At Co-Workers [defamer]

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Isaiah Washington Meets GLSEN and GLAAD

Actor Isaiah Washington, still under fire for the anti-gay slurs he made toward castmate T.R. Knight, met Monday with GLAAD president Neil Giuliano, and Kevin Jennings, founder and executive director of GLSEN.

The three reportedly discussed the possibility of an "ongoing partnership to combat prejudice and intolerance" directed at the gay and lesbian community, according to a press release issued by GLAAD.

Said Giuliano: "Isaiah understands that he is going to be judged by more than just his apology. He knows that his future actions – including the genuine first step that today's meeting represents – will demonstrate his sincerity in becoming part of the solution to anti-gay bigotry. We welcome the opportunity to work with him in the coming months to help improve the cultural climate faced by LGBT people across this country."

Jennings added, "GLSEN is thankful to ABC for arranging the meeting and hopeful that Isaiah Washington has come to a deeper understanding of the power of words, especially as we launch No Name-Calling Week in schools across the country. As a parent himself, Isaiah Washington seemed to particularly appreciate the impact these words have on young people in schools and expressed an interest in becoming an ally in GLSEN 's effort to educate young people about the negative impact of name-calling and bullying."

The two groups say they expect to meet again with Washington in the coming weeks to begin implementing their work together.

It is now ABC's turn to step up to the plate and demonstrate that they have zero tolerance for anti-gay bigotry by firing Washington.

According to Kristin Veitch from E!, the network may be considering such a step. Says Veitch: "I just received word from a highly placed source within the Touchstone/ABC family that ABC and Disney executives are currently considering the option of firing Isaiah Washington from Grey's Anatomy, effective immediately, without having him appear in any kind of farewell episode. According to this reliable source, if the network does follow through with this option, the producers are likely to run a full-screen announcement at the beginning of the first Burke-less episode that announces Isaiah Washington is no longer part of the show."

RELATED: CNN mocks The New York Times for refusing to print the F-word, host Glenn Beck calls it a "naughty name"...

Imho this whole episode has dragged out way too long. Let's hope there is some more definitive action from ABC soon.

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