Clearview’s Gay-Straight ALLiance “speak out” for those who face intolerance
“Silence is one of the great arts of conversation.” These are words attributed to Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman politician and lawyer born in 106 BC.
Conversation by route of silent demonstration was the goal of the Gay-Straight ALLiance at Clearview Regional High School recently, as more than 70 students and several staff dressed in black and remained mute for one full school day.
Before the April 27 Day of Silence, student members of GSA stood at the head of a packed room of teachers and administrators on April 10 to explain their desire to engage in silent demonstration.
These words filled a screen at the front of the room, “Community members and allies come together to remember those who have been bullied, assaulted, killed, or led to self-harm or suicide because of their sexuality or gender. We choose not to speak so that people understand the result of such silence — voices lost due to the violence committed upon queer people.”
As the presentation continued, students read narratives of several young citizens who were beaten, bullied or ridiculed for their sexual orientation and who died as result of self-harm and even at the hands of others.
Tammy Murphy, an adult advisor of the school’s GSA group said, “You could hear a pin drop,” after each reading.
She later stated the administration and staff were behind the student-led initiative and have been supportive of the group in the past.
Clearview’s GSA partners with GLSEN (pronounced glisten), a national education organization focused on ensuring safe and affirming schools for LGBTQ students. Through this partnership, Clearview was one of more than 5,000 schools taking part in the Day of Silence.
Aderonke Adejare is a sophomore and a member of GSA. She said she thinks the Day of Silence had a positive impact on her fellow classmates and even teachers.
“I feel as a black person and girl, I’ve felt the influence of oppression. I’ve lived my life knowing about that… It’s not fair that people that just want to love other people or just want to be themselves are being ridiculed and harassed and killed over being who they are… I want to make a change so all places are more accepting. Why not start at my school?”
Adejare started her Day of Silence on the bus before arriving at school and remained silent until the final bell.
“That’s not an easy thing to do,” Murphy said.
Murphy and fellow advisor Corey Romeyn stressed that while they helped plan the Day of Silence, it was really the students who orchestrated the event.
After a moment of reflection, Romeyn said of the students, “They are being proactive rather than reactive and are not biding their time and waiting until they leave high school … the fact that we have so many young adults speaking out is fantastic. It’s what we need.”
Commenting on the rise of youthful voices across the country regarding social issues, Murphy said, “This was not heard of when I was high school in the ’80s … the fact that kids are not only willing and able to talk about it but to be young activists and to prevent some of these things from happening” is vital.
Adejare said during the Day of Silence she did not experience any direct ridicule. However, she mentioned a flier advertising the event was torn off her locker.
Despite actions such as that, she remains hopeful.
“I feel Clearview has come a long way. I’ve seen a more loving community at Clearview and a lot of people working to make this space a lot more accepting,” she said.
Just last month, Clearview junior Rebekah Strauss was awarded the Princeton Prize in Race Relations for orchestrating a sit-in last school year to urge conversation about racial inequality and its existence still today. Before a crowded room at Princeton University, Strauss said, “We are valid. Our struggles are real.”
This Day of Silence to honor those LGBTQ individuals who have suffered from intolerance was something both Murphy and Romeyn feel touched the entire Clearview community.
“Even the teachers got so much out of it. They had a certain level of respect for the students that participated and gained a knowledge of how to address issues that come up in the classroom,” Murphy said.
As for the students of GSA and all other inclusive groups at Clearview, Romeyn said, “[The students] are our future. We should be listening to them.”
