Tuesday, May 02, 2006
CYD High School Students Stand Up Against Bigotry
Mira Loma High School Sent out this Press Release this weekend:
In the midst of a peaceful protest supporting the rights of those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, students have been met with hostility on their school campus. Students who participated in the Gay-Straight Alliance Club sponsored Day of Silence wore black shirts and badges that explained that they maintained their silence to protest the harassment and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students in schools around the nation. An annual event at Mira Loma High School and nationwide, it is usually widely supported by the students and faculty. Students participating in the Day of Silence are excused from speaking in all classes and usually meet no resistance in their aim to further the acceptance of all.
Unfortunately, on Wednesday, April 27, and through the rest of the week, students at Mira Loma High School have been met with loud and decidedly aggressive protesting by local anti-gay Christian groups. During the school day, students who were protesting against the Day of Silence wore black t-shirts with red circles crossing out the word “gay”, and passed out fliers full of anti-gay propaganda with alleged supporting Bible verses and quotes. After school, waving derogatory posters, protesters lined the street in front of the campus, with anti-gay signs citing verses against homosexuality and driving by with trucks covered in bullish rhetoric.
The intimidation of students based on their sexual orientation or on any grounds is wrong, and we do not stand for it. Further, self-proclaimed outside adult “Christian” groups have no right to intimidate and bully high school aged students. Mira Loma Young Democrats and the Mira Loma Gay-Strait Alliance believe that these intimidation tactics by adults against students is immoral and disgusting. One of the wonderful things about Mira Loma is its diversity, and the acceptance of all ideas in a safe environment. We have a variety of different ethnic groups, races, religions, and ideas in our school, which fosters the learning process and encourages peaceful debate and the exchange of ideas in a positive way.
Mira Loma High School Young Democrats supports the acceptance of all groups in our school, which, before this incident was considered to be a peaceful understanding place. We support the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students and their allies and abhor the tactics and message of those who seek to separate our student body. We urge students to unite in the similarities shared and celebrate in diversity in the face of those who wish to separate. Additionally, we thank the faculty and staff for their support in the efforts for unification of the student body. The people protesting do not represent our student body, and we do not wish to be viewed in this context. We support unity, acceptance and a safe learning environment for all students.
In the midst of a peaceful protest supporting the rights of those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, students have been met with hostility on their school campus. Students who participated in the Gay-Straight Alliance Club sponsored Day of Silence wore black shirts and badges that explained that they maintained their silence to protest the harassment and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students in schools around the nation. An annual event at Mira Loma High School and nationwide, it is usually widely supported by the students and faculty. Students participating in the Day of Silence are excused from speaking in all classes and usually meet no resistance in their aim to further the acceptance of all.
Unfortunately, on Wednesday, April 27, and through the rest of the week, students at Mira Loma High School have been met with loud and decidedly aggressive protesting by local anti-gay Christian groups. During the school day, students who were protesting against the Day of Silence wore black t-shirts with red circles crossing out the word “gay”, and passed out fliers full of anti-gay propaganda with alleged supporting Bible verses and quotes. After school, waving derogatory posters, protesters lined the street in front of the campus, with anti-gay signs citing verses against homosexuality and driving by with trucks covered in bullish rhetoric.
The intimidation of students based on their sexual orientation or on any grounds is wrong, and we do not stand for it. Further, self-proclaimed outside adult “Christian” groups have no right to intimidate and bully high school aged students. Mira Loma Young Democrats and the Mira Loma Gay-Strait Alliance believe that these intimidation tactics by adults against students is immoral and disgusting. One of the wonderful things about Mira Loma is its diversity, and the acceptance of all ideas in a safe environment. We have a variety of different ethnic groups, races, religions, and ideas in our school, which fosters the learning process and encourages peaceful debate and the exchange of ideas in a positive way.
Mira Loma High School Young Democrats supports the acceptance of all groups in our school, which, before this incident was considered to be a peaceful understanding place. We support the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students and their allies and abhor the tactics and message of those who seek to separate our student body. We urge students to unite in the similarities shared and celebrate in diversity in the face of those who wish to separate. Additionally, we thank the faculty and staff for their support in the efforts for unification of the student body. The people protesting do not represent our student body, and we do not wish to be viewed in this context. We support unity, acceptance and a safe learning environment for all students.
