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Nesaie
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 Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:28 am Post subject: Mount Si's gay-rights Day of Silence is far from quiet |
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Mount Si's gay-rights Day of Silence is far from quiet
By Lynn Thompson
Seattle Times Eastside bureau
A Day of Silence inside Mount Si High School meant to show support for gay and lesbian students erupted in noisy protests outside.
More than one-third of students didn't show up for classes Friday. Principal Randy Taylor said 495 out of 1,410 students weren't at school, including 85 athletes whose parents had asked that they be excused for their personal beliefs.
About 100 people joined the Rev. Ken Hutcherson, a prominent anti-gay-rights activist, in prayer and song that questioned the dedication of a school day to what they said was a controversial political cause.
Snoqualmie police placed yellow crime-scene tape between Hutcherson's supporters and about 40 counterdemonstrators, including some former students, who tried to drown out the pastor by beating drums and chanting, "Go home."
Earlier, about 80 parents and supporters of the event, sponsored by the school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), stood quietly outside the school as students arrived in the morning. Some wore tie-dye scarves, and a former student waved a rainbow flag.
"We want to let students in the GSA know they have support in the community," said Lucinda Hauser, a Mount Si parent and member of the local Methodist church.
Members of the group of supporters said they did not want to confront Hutcherson or his supporters and left about 8 a.m.
The national Day of Silence was observed Friday by more than 200 high schools around the state and more than 7,000 school and colleges nationally. It has been observed nationally for the past 13 years.
Participants take a vow of silence to represent the silence many gay and lesbian students feel they must maintain at school to avoid harassment.
Some conservative Christian groups, including Concerned Women for America, had called for a national boycott and urged followers to keep their children home from school.
The Mount Si event became a flash point for controversy after Hutcherson, whose daughter attends the school, was invited to give the Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech earlier this year about his experiences growing up black in Alabama. Because of his controversial views on homosexuality, one teacher booed his appearance and another questioned his support for equal rights.
Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, last week called for 1,000 "prayer warriors" to join him outside the school Friday.
He and his wife also took out a half-page ad in the Snoqualmie Valley Record calling on residents to join them.
Speaking to his followers Friday, Hutcherson said, "We want education, not indoctrination." He said school officials had not listened to parent complaints that the Day of Silence interrupted learning and was more appropriately held before or after school.
"It's not appropriate to have during school," said Lynette Smallwood, the parent of two Mount Si students.
"They're not getting an education."
Hutcherson supporters carried signs that read "Teach Don't Preach" and "Silence for Unnatural Behavior? Not ME."
Across the police tape, Scott Stubing, of Carnation, said his son had been harassed at school and accused of being gay.
"We can't continue with ignorance," Stubing said.
Some students left class when the protests began outside. Max Rosentreter, a sophomore, said he wanted to be outside voicing his opinion.
Despite the school's Gay Straight Alliance, few Mount Si gay students are open about their sexuality, he said.
"No one's out. They're scared of getting hurt," he said.
Ken Lauren, a Redmond parent whose son-in-law teaches at Mount Si, shouted at Hutcherson's group, "Are these the values you want your kids to grow up with — bigotry, intolerance, hatred?"
His sign read, "I believe in separation of church and hate."
Some students arriving at school honked to support the proponents of gay rights. One student had written on her car window, "It's our school, not your church."
Another student drove an open Jeep blasting the Village People song "Macho Man" and Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out."
Students interviewed later said the atmosphere inside the school was at times tense as students expressed a range of opinions.
About 200 students took training to participate in the Day of Silence. School administrators required the preparation as a way to ensure student safety and to protect the learning environment.
Some students and parents had complained to the school board earlier this spring that the two previous Days of Silence at Mount Si had coerced participation and subjected to harassment students who wanted to stay neutral.
Some teachers also chose to remain silent, drawing objections from students who said they were there to learn. Otherwise, last year's event occurred largely without incident.
Administrators directed teachers to teach this year and said that students should respond if called upon in class.
Taylor said Friday's observances were a lesson in democracy for students.
"They learned they can express themselves and respect other points of view," he said. The principal also commended teachers at the school who he said were "teaching the curriculum."
Junior Landon Wilson, wearing an Uncle Sam costume, joined members of the Mount Si Student Conservative Club in handing out red, white and blue ribbons.
He said the group was offering what it considered to be American values as an alternative to an endorsement of the Day of Silence.
Jacqueline Ferland, president of the GSA, called the day a success. "There's diversity at this school, and there's now a recognition of that," she said.
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micki
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:41 am Post subject: |
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I really don't understand what the fuss was. (that's my dad's alma mater, btw)
The complaints I heard were mainly that all the other clubs "had to do their thing outside of school hours" I think for those who attended and participated, it could have been a good lesson in peaceful and non violent protest. School certainly could have been carried out in an almost normal way. Not talking doesn't mean they can't write or otherwise study. It might have just taken a bit of planning on the teachers' parts.
I figure, however, that like most high schools, it was just an excuse to skip.
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Nesaie
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| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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Students have protested other things during school hours. There was a story a while back about a high school student who got teased, and I think beat up, for wearing a pink shirt (he was male). So, some other students bought a bunch of pink shirts and handed them out for people to wear, in protest of that incident. So students walk out of class in protest against war. All sorts of protests happen during school hours.
If these anti-gay protesters hadn't showed up, we'd never hear about this. They did more for the movement they protest than the original protest.
So, your dad is from the North Bend area? Probably back when it was really rural. You'd be amazed at how much that area has grown. They're building a casino up there now. |
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micki
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:08 am Post subject: |
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you're right, I forgot the bullying thing. No one complained about that...
Yup, my grandparents lived on a 40 acre farm outside Fall City (by Snoqualmie Falls)and my great aunt's family is from the Snoqualmie band, which is building the casino. Grandma wanted to sell the family farm to the band, who wanted to use it for Elder housing (after she was gone), but it didn't work out. We wanted to either sell to the band (first) or to someone who would keep it a farm. King county restrictions that prohibit further sub-division in the area really de-valued the property, but we wouldn't have wanted to see it split up anyway, unless we could have split it amongst ourselves. We found someone who wants to raise horses, and that's all good by us. My brother still lives there and takes care of the land. It's a very spiritual place for us kids, and we're happy to still have access to it, at least for now.
I used to be quite bitter about how much the area has grown up, especially between Fall City and Redmond, which used to be a hole in the wall where we went to the feed store. I even remember when Bellevue was rural.
When did I get so old...  |
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Nesaie
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| Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like that was before the 520 bridge was built.
I grew up in Briar back when it was still rural too. It used to be full of horses and white trash. Now it's full of cul-de-sacs and million dollar homes. The big boom started in the 80's when all those Californians moved up here and offered double the price for houses. They tore down all my woods.
Well, Redmond and the whole east side has not stopped growing. I live in Redmond now and all downtown they're building new condos. I don't know if you're familiar with the Workshop Tavern, but it used to be an icon here. It closed this winter to make room for a new street for new condos.
I always have to laugh at Bellevue. It's a city built around a mall.  But, I hardly recognize it any more when I go down there. They're trying to make it a popular night scene area to attract yuppies. |
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micki
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 1:58 am Post subject: |
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I tried to deke in off 405 a couple years ago to get to the farm from the north end through Redmond and I got Sooooo lost. Like I said, I remember the bank and the feed store. The bank is still there, but I think the feed store is gone.
I've been gone 30 years. Can't find anything other than Preston and Fall City, and then only if I go Hwy18 and follow the signs. My sister and I had to find an escrow office in Bellevue two years ago. THAT was fun...NOT!
Auburn still is about the same (where I grew up) only because it's a valley and there's only so far to grow. But again, the farmland is almost all turned into industrial parks (and the racetrack)
The traffic is HORRIBLE! And you're right, it was all the Californians when Microsoft and Nintendo, etc. were booming. I try and not visit very often, not that I don't want to see the remaining family that still lives in the area, but I have an aversion to sitting on the freeway for 30 minutes at a time going NOWHERE!!
Guess we kinda lost this thread, eh?  |
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Aquarian
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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This awareness and revolt against the oppressive establishment makes me happy Nesaie!
Thanks!
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Neal51
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| Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 11:47 am Post subject: |
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Aquarian
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| Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks Neal! |
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I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend? ~Robert Redford, Yosemite National Park dedication, 1985 |
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