Just a quick programming note: I've written a guest blog over at Towleroad today, talking about some of the events at my alma mater surrounding the Day of Silence. Rev. Ken Hutcherson will be protesting at the campus today because of the school GSA's participation in the national event.
'Day of Silence' Met with Protests, Solidarity in Rural Washington
That fact that there is a Gay-Straight Alliance at all in my former high school is something that gives me hope for the future. Such an organization seemed far from possible when I was attending, and drawing attention to the bullying surrounding queer youth only helps create an environment of tolerance for everyone. Now, even other religious organizations are getting into the dialog -- saying, "Hutcherson does not speak for us."
I appreciate your readership (and patience when I stray from our site's topic.)
[ 'Day of Silence' Met with Protests, Solidarity in Rural Washington - Guest Post at Towleroad ]
04.25.08
Chris thanks for what you wrote regarding the day of silence. I am going to copy and paste here what I wrote following your article. Honey it may be a day of silence. I can't do it child. God knows I have tried. LOL. But I am for the cause and do my efforts in ways in which I hope to make a dent of a difference.
After the death of Matthew Shepherd I said how many more? I started then preaching, cussing, witnessing, making flyers, work for teen suicide hotline, and tell others that if you hear a homophobic slur and say nothing and sit idly by you are in my opionion as guilty as the one who said it. I have shaken people honey for that crap. I have done all I can and will do more, but this silence thing? Well, hell, even I know my limitations. What follows is what I wrote and I hope it can speak somehow to someone.
I am a born again Christian gay man. And I have been sick for years of what others are doing in the name of Christ. There are those of us who understand that Christ is about love and that ALL are created in the image of God resulting within each of us DIGNITY.
For those who say I can't be gay and Christian, I ask you, when did you get up on a cross and die for me? Until then, discussion closed.
Peace to all and I request that everyone please accept and realize not to lump all Christians together the same way in which we as of a homosexual orientation would not all want to be sterotyped as the jock or the limp wristed; we are a wonderful diverse community and have within ourselves the ability to respond to God's graciousness by empowering one another; meaning that we do our part to instill in one another the hope for the betterment of each brother and sister.
oh, child, you can see it may be a day of silence but honey, I can't do it. I run at the mouth. LOL.
But thank God for the awareness and the efforts of all of you.
Peace, Brandon
Posted by Brandon thanking Chris for this event | April 25, 2008 10:16 AM
I was searching for more news regarding this situation and happened to come upon your site. I read your article and I thought it was great! I forwarded it to a friend of mine I lived with while attending UW, who also went to Mount Si, and he thought it was great as well.
Keep up the good writing!
Posted by Gabriel | April 25, 2008 3:14 PM