Warren Throckmorton: Day of Silence Derangement Syndrome is Breaking Out

As I have noted before, years ago Warren Throckmorton and I had very heated e-mail exchanges arguing about the Christianist backed myth that gays can change their sexual orientation. At the time, Throckmorton was an advocate for the change myth. With the passage of time, additional research studies and APA findings that so-called reparative therapy is basically snake oil that doesn't work and, in fact, can be dangerous, Throckmorton has evolved and now disavows and writes against the most virulent anti-gay poison of the Christianists. Would that more conservative Christians would accept scientific knowledge and recognize that their anti-gay views might just possible be wrong. Next month on April 20th is the annual "Day of Silence" which focuses on anti-gay bullying. It goes without saying that the anti-gay hate merchants are once again having fits over the event which candidly aims to stop the bullying and humane treatment advocated by the Christianists. Warren comments on the whining and shrieking of the haters in part as follows:

On April 20, thousands of students will remain silent for part of the school day to call attention to anti-gay bullying and harassment. Called the Day of Silence, the event is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.

In 2008, some Christian right organizations called on parents to keep their kids home on the Day of Silence. This is happening again this year.

The Day of Silence brings out some really odd statements from those opposed to it. One would think that sending your kids to school on that day is sinful. Take for instance this exchange, reported on Right Wing Watch, between Linda Harvey and Laurie Higgins:

Harvey: You can keep your kids home that day if you suspect or you find out that teachers are going to accommodate this protest silence in order to honor homosexuality, let’s be clear about what this is, this is a God-dishonoring day that honors sin, sinful, immoral behavior that most parents don’t want their children involved in.

Higgins: Christian teachers out there and if you’re working in a public school plan activities that involve student communications so students are not allowed to do this.

Laurie Higgins says the Day of Silence people promote kids remaining silent in class. While the organizers are fine with teachers who allow this response, GLSEN is clear that students do not have the right to remain silent if the class activities call on them to speak.

The irony is that Higgins and Harvey accuse the Day of Silence participants of violating school rules by remaining silent, and then turn around and urge truancy. Higgins and Harvey are fine with skipping an entire day of school, but become unhinged when those opposed to anti-gay bullying want to remain silent during non-instructional times.

I urge parents to resist Day of Silence Derangement Syndrome and send their kids to school on the Day of Silence (and even the misguided Day of Dialogue the day before). Send them to school and encourage them to become part of the solution via opposition to bullying. Students may want to remain silent, or take part in the Golden Rule Pledge which can take place any day of the year.

Did I mention that Linda Harvey's anti-gay cottage industry, Mission America is a registered anti-gay hate group (Harvey is pictured above at left)? As for the supposed "Day of Dialogue" pushed by hate merchants like Harvey, the participants basically focus on telling LGBT students that they are sinners and doomed to Hell for eternity because of their sexual orientation. Friendly Atheist as a parody of the "you're a sinner who is damned to Hell" cards the Christianist minions will be trying to hand out to LGBT students and their allies: