By MARK J. MILLER, Staff writer
 | Mark J. Miller
PLAN?OBSERVANCE – The Toronto High School Gay-Straight Alliance is planning its second Day of Silence on April 24. The Day of Silence is to bring attention to the bullying and stereotyping of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender individuals along with discrimination against individuals because of their ethnicity, religion or handicap. Those participating in this year’s event include, from left, Justin Poole, president of the THS GSA; and Alex Smith, Christi Bradley and Charlyn Ward, all GSA members.
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TORONTO — The second annual Day of Silence sponsored by the city high school Gay-Straight Alliance will be held April 24 at the school.
Organizers say this will be the school’s second year for the event meant to bring attention to the bullying and stereotyping of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender individuals along with discrimination against individuals because of their ethnicity, religion or handicap. The day also will include a memorial for Lawrence King, an eighth-grade pupil at E.O. Green School in Oxnard, Calif., who, in January, was allegedly killed by a classmate because of his sexual orientation.
This year’s Day of Silence also is gaining more participation than last year’s event, according to Justin Poole, junior and GSA president.
“This is Toronto High School’s second annual Day of Silence,” said Poole, adding about 30 students participated last year. “We also held it last year. Right now we have more people that are going to participate than last year. We are hoping to double last year’s number of participants, and it looks like we will.
“The national Day of Silence is April 25, but we changed the day here at the high school because of the prom and other activities,” continued Poole. “The Day of Silence is a protest to recognize the bullying of lesbian, gay and transgender students.”
Poole said while the national association is for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender individuals and their allies, the THS GSA club also includes anyone who is a victim of bullying or discrimination.
“Most GSAs are for gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals and their allies,” said Poole, adding the THS chapter welcomes anyone who wishes to join. “But our goal here is to end all harassment of all students.”
The day also will include a number of educational opportunities for students to learn about discrimination, diversity and stereotyping, said Poole. Along with a number of students who will remain silent throughout the school day, other “speaking allies” will be speaking about the issue to any students who desire to hear, said Poole.
“Our speaking allies will be offering to discuss the issue with other students,” Poole said. “I’m going to be handing out speaking cards, along with cards for those who aren’t speaking. It’s not just about being silent but being aware of the issue.”
Poole said the day will begin with students gathering at first period to make last-minute preparations for the day. Another event will include a “silent lunch,” where participants remaining silent can gather and eat lunch together. There also will be a designated “safe space” for those students who may experience stress during the day, while literature for those students wishing to learn about harassment and bullying will be made available, Poole said.
The day will end with a gathering of students at Clarke Hinkle Stadium, where the “Breaking Silence” event will include a countdown to the end of silence, snacks, guest speakers, a reflection on the silence and performers from the high school’s production of “High School Musical,” said Poole. Balloons in memory of Lawrence King also will be launched during the ceremony, he added.
English teacher Cathie Thomas, adviser for the GSA, said the group also is sponsoring a writing contest.
“Students can submit an original song, poem, essay or fictional story up to 500 words long on bullying and harassment,” Thomas said.
The contest is open to seventh- through 12th-grade students, said Thomas.
“I’m making my assignments mandatory,” she said. “What this is about is not having the right to bully or harass anyone because of their lifestyle.”
Poole said he believes the club’s establishment at the school has made a difference in awareness of the issue.
“We got the club approved at the beginning of last year,” he said, adding the club and first Day of Silence made an impact on student awareness.
“Last year, (some students) called it ‘gay day.’ This year I’m a lot more informed about the issues, and I can present the correct information. We definitely have a lot more participation by more students.”
Poole also thanked business sponsors for this year’s Day of Silence, which includes Iggy’s Pizza and Pasta, the Focus in Toronto Web site, Domino’s Pizza, DiCarlo’s Pizza and McDonald’s restaurant.
For information, go to the link at www.torontoinfocus.com or e-mail justinp@studentorganizer.org.
(Miller can be contacted at mmiller@heraldstaronline.com.)
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