GCC "Breaks the Silence"
Eric CarrollReporter, The Voice
Glendale Community College (GCC) held a Breaking the Silence (BTS) on April 23. The event was a preamble to the Day of Silence (DOS) which was held on April 25.
The DOS was born on the campus of the University of Virginia in 1996. The event being such a success moved founder and organizer Maria Pulzetti to take it to a national awareness level.
The DOS is a day to bring awareness to the struggles that the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community are facing while they are in school.
Middle school to college students participate in the DOS.
This year the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) who has been the official organizational sponsor for the event since 2001, reports a ¡§record 6,500 middle and high schools have registered as participants¡¨ for the 12th annual DOS.
This year the DOS will be held in remembrance of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student who was shot and killed in school on Feb 12, 2008, by a fellow student, because of Kings sexual orientation and gender expression.
The Organizations that were on hand for this event were the Midnite Metaphors Creative Writing Club (MMCWC) who had several members reading works of art.
Student Support Services Club (SSSC) was there answering questions.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) who had fliers, pamphlets, brochures along with stickers and a sign up sheet for those who wanted to know about what they can do to aid with HRC, Kathy Young and Ricky Dennis also answered any and all questions concerning the organization.
Compass Club (CC) was on site with a television under a canopy showing a video of the people who have been victimized by others for not being straight.
Amnesty International had a table with fliers, brochures, pamphlets, and stickers which were manned by Shiloh Ashley.
Denise Eager a member of CC who was manning the club table informed, The Voice that, ¡§the DOS is one way to expose people to reality to what happens to others who are abused and not given their rights.¡¨
Music was on hand not only on the stage by ChickPop recording artist Magdalen Hsu-Liu, who had flew in from Boston that morning and was flying back that afternoon. But by talented solo guitarist Arthur Morales who was playing at the beginning of the event, drawing the attention of people who walked by.
For more information on the Day of Silence and the organizations that participated you can go to the following websites.
ĕ www.hrc.org
ĕ www.myspace.com/compassclub ĕ www.glsen.org
ĕ www.amnesty.org
Photo Credit: Eric Carroll Chick Pop Artist Magdalen Hsu-Liu performing during the Day of Silence hosted by GCC's compass club.
