The Day of Silence is being observed on Friday, April 16 this year.

On the Day of Silence, many young people around the nation will remain silent at school in order to bring attention to name-calling, bullying and harassment of gay and lesbian students in schools. When other students ask about the reason for their silence, many will hand out a card with the following message:

Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence (DOS), a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today.

DAY of SILENCE – What are you going to do to end the Silence?

We believe these students are asking for and should receive an answer to their question. We believe the answer should be a commitment to mutual respect and safety. The Golden Rule Pledge provides an way to communicate that pledge of respect. In reply to the question asked on the Day of Silence card, students can offer a verbal pledge to treat others with respect and/or a silent reply with a Golden Rule Pledge card.

Some Christian and conservative groups called for a boycott of the Day of Silence in 2008 and 2009, in some cases leading to loud protests. Many of the same groups are calling for a similar boycott this year. Still others are organizing what they call a “Day or Truth.” The DOT event seeks to inform gay students that Christianity does not approve of homosexual behavior via the wearing of T-shirts and passing out of cards. This year this event is being held on April 15, the day before the Day of Silence. We believe this event builds more walls than bridges.

We seek a different approach. The Golden Rule Pledgers will show up at school on both the 15th and 16th and live out the teaching of Christ to treat others as they want to be treated. Rather than engage in debates over beliefs about homosexuality, we advocate a pledge to live by the Golden Rule. This can be offered verbally and/or by giving out a Golden Rule Pledge card.

Please use the contact form to get involved…

Fill out this survey here…

Join the Facebook group here…

The Golden Rule Pledge has been endorsed by several evangelical leaders. Here are just three…

Andrew Marin, president of the Marin Foundation and author of the new book, Love is an Orientation, recently wrote to endorse the Golden Rule Pledge. Marin said:

I am a full believer in the Golden Rule Pledge. Instead of taking our kids out of school, we have a unique, and wonderful opportunity to be able to teach the next generation of Christians what it means to peacefully and productively build bridges with our gay and lesbian neighbors.

Bob Stith is the National Strategist for Gender Issues with the Southern Baptist Convention. Bob wrote:

Several years ago I stood outside a church which was being picketed by two very vocal and rabid “Christian” groups. Standing on the sidewalk were also some young lesbians doing their own picketing. The first group became more and more vocal in their opposition and insults. They began telling the young women how despicable they were and how God despised them.

At that point I walked over and told the girls, “I am a Christian and I do believe the Bible says homosexual behavior is sin. But I want you to know what these people are saying is wrong. I want to apologize to you and tell God does love you very much. Don’t ever let anyone convince you He doesn’t.”

I have long thought Christians were missing a great opportunity by not being more vocal in helping to make our schools safe places for all kids. It doesn’t require that we compromise our beliefs. Indeed it can give us a great opportunity that we might not otherwise have.

What a wonderful opportunity to express our convictions in a way that is positive, loving and redemptive. What a wonderful opportunity to train our children to care about all people, to model the example of Jesus and the woman at the well.

Who knows but what this could even be the beginning of a movement that will turn the tide of school shootings and violence in the hallways.

Wayne Jacobsen is the publisher of the best-selling book, The Shack. Recently on his Lifestream blog, he wrote:

…many public school students will observe a Day of Silence as a means to protest harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It has been going on for almost a decade and many parents who are against ‘the gay agenda’ feel the need to keep their kids home that day, or participate in a Day of Truth that makes sure everyone in their district knows they consider homosexuality to be immoral. Is this the way Jesus would respond.

Perhaps a better way to encourage faith-based students to respond would be to adopt the Golden Rule Pledge. “I pledge to treat others the way I want to be treated.” It allows a pro-active response to sharing the burden to increase mutual respect for all, regardless of our differing points of view.

While she did not endorse the GRP official, Eliza Byard of GLSEN, a sponsor of the Day of Silence, said this about the Goldren Rule Pledge:

The Day of Silence embodies a commitment to everyone being treated with respect — people treating each other as they wish to be treated themselves — and highlights a crucial area of school climate where we currently fall short of that goal. We welcome participation in the Day of Silence of students of all backgrounds and beliefs who recognize and acknowledge this common commitment, and feel that your identification of that common ground is a step forward.

warrenthrockmorton@gmail.com

We have the Golden Rule Pledge cards via .pdf file here. This year we have them in various colors and black and white.

Just print them on card stock (or the paper of choice), cut them out and you are ready to go.

Multiple colors background option

Red background option one

Red background option two

Black and white option one

Black and white option two

On April 17, 2008 thousands of high school and college students will attempt to remain silent during parts of the school day to bring awareness to bullying and harassment of gay, lesbian and bisexually identified students. In its 12th year, this student-run event, called the Day of Silence, is supported by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Some social conservative groups have advised parents either to keep their children home or have them walk out if the Day of Silence is being observed. The groups advocating the boycott are concerned that the Day of Silence promotes homosexual behavior. However, to me, the strategy seems off the mark.

I know that many evangelicals feel conflict about an event like the Day of Silence. Despite moral misgivings about homosexuality, they loathe judgmental disrespect, harassment or violence toward any one, including their gay friends and neighbors.

Are we missing a teachable moment?

What if evangelical kids and college students led the way to make schools safe for all students? Where could we start? How about on the Day of Silence?

Without altering convictions about sexuality, I propose that evangelicals should have something more to contribute than a protest toward the elimination of hostility and aggression against gay people and other people who are viewed as different. Indeed, we should be leading the way to make schools safe and build bridges to those who often equate “Christian” with condemnation.

To pursue those bridges, Michael Frey, Western PA Director for College Ministries with Campus Crusade and I are promoting an alternative. We encourage Christian kids to demonstrate the grace of Christ by pledging to follow the Golden Rule in their interactions with all students. Last year, students in over 30 high schools and colleges participated by agreeing with GLBT peers to respect each other as Image bearers of God. Students distributed pledges to honor the teaching of Christ to love as He loved and to treat others as we want to be treated.

In the process, some bridges were built. For instance, a Christian group at Slippery Rock University entered a dialogue with a gay support group on campus and helped lead a call for respectful treatment of all students on campus. Randy Veccia, student leader, said the efforts of both groups served “to raise awareness that everyone deserves to be loved.” Christian students in high schools in Greensboro, NC reached out with Good News in unprecedented ways. On the campus of Appalachian State University, Christian students took part in anti-harassment activities alongside students from the GLB support groups on campus.

Rev. Bob Stith, Gender Issues Strategist for the Southern Baptist convention had this to say about the Golden Rule Pledge:

Several years ago I stood outside a church which was being picketed by two very vocal and rabid “Christian” groups. Also standing on the sidewalk were some young lesbians doing their own picketing. The first group became more and more vocal in their opposition and insults. They began telling the young women how despicable they were and how God despised them.

At that point I walked over and told the girls, “I am a Christian and I do believe the Bible says homosexual behavior is sin. But I want you to know what these people are saying is wrong. I want to apologize to you and tell God does love you very much. Don’t ever let anyone convince you He doesn’t.”

I have long thought Christians were missing a great opportunity by not being more vocal in helping to make our schools safe places for all kids. It doesn’t require that we compromise our beliefs. Indeed it can give us a great opportunity that we might not otherwise have.
What a wonderful opportunity to express our convictions in a way that is positive, loving and redemptive. What a wonderful opportunity to train our children to care about all people, to model the example of Jesus and the woman at the well.

Who knows but what this could even be the beginning of a movement that will turn the tide of school shootings and violence in the hallways?

I hope you are correct, Bob.

In most schools this year, the Day of Silence is slated for April 17. Students and leaders can learn more about the Golden Rule Pledge by going to the Golden Rule Pledge website: www.goldenrulepledge.com or contacting me at warrenthrockmorton@gmail.com.

Join the Facebook group (click the link)
…………
Warren Throckmorton, PhD is Associate Professor of Psychology and Fellow for Public Policy and Psychology at Grove City College. He blogs at www.wthrockmorton.com.

The Golden Rule Pledge remains an option for students who do not feel a part of the Day of Silence event to engage in a positive and safe response. Some Christian and conservative groups called for a boycott of the Day of Silence in 2008, in some cases leading to loud protests. We seek a different approach. The Golden Rule Pledgers will show up at school and live out the teaching of Christ to treat others as they want to be treated.

Please use the contact form to get involved…

Also fill out this survey here…

For me, it was an incredible day. The Lord speaks in silence, and that’s what he did for me. Through my prayer about showing love to others, the Lord really revealed His love for me. I had the opportunity to pass out several flyers and I could tell our actions made people think. I had a few people from the community, many homosexual themselves, tell me what an impact it made to see christians participating on their behalf. One of them commented that they “aren’t seeking approval, just kindness.”

Read the rest of Meryl’s report here…

]]> http://goldenrulepledge.com/2008/04/golden-rule-pledge-on-the-day-of-silence-university-of-north-carolina-greensboro/feed/ 0 http://goldenrulepledge.com/2008/04/day-of-silence-and-golden-rule-pledge-at-appalachian-state-university/ http://goldenrulepledge.com/2008/04/day-of-silence-and-golden-rule-pledge-at-appalachian-state-university/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:44:19 +0000 warren http://goldenrulepledge.com/?p=12 I want to share one very early report of efforts on the Day of from Jordyne Krumroy, a student at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Jordyne was an early supporter of the Golden Rule Pledge and as you will see, used it as a springboard to mobilize Christian groups on her campus for outreach. She wrote to me today (Saturday, the 26th) with her experiences of the day. It is long but well worth the read. Read the whole article by clicking the link below…

Yesterday was the Day of Silence. A national event where students on their campuses are silent for the entire day to bring awareness to the silencing of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) students. This community has been daily silenced by the name-calling, bullying, and harassment simply because of their sexuality. Many Christians are confused about how to respond to this day because they do not agree with homosexuality, but they do agree that hatred based on it is not acceptable.

This year I decided to get involved. I went to Campus Crusade for Christ as well as Intervarsity Fellowship to present the idea of participating. They both said they wanted to participate but I was absolutely astonished when Campus Crusade said that not only did they want to support it as individuals, but as a ministry. When I heard this, my heart was pounding- it was a prayer come true.

I can’t give you a count of how many students from the ministries actually participated. It might have been one, or many. But to me, it was their sincere desire to do something that really hit me hard. I have long been frustrated with the Christian community’s response to the GLBT group. When Crusade called me, a little piece of anger towards the church was cast away.

To read the rest, go here…

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