Tara Sprickerhoff
Special to The Tribune
Last Thursday, the joint Columneetza and Williams Lake Secondary School Gay Straight Alliance clubs came together to host a Day of Silence and the Get Loud concert.
During the school day participating students took an oath of silence to protest anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bullying, name-calling and harassment.
They carried around cards, which, when asked why they weren’t talking, they handed to people explaining their purpose. The intent was to draw attention to those who are too bullied into silence to speak up for themselves.
“I’m participating because I have friends who are LGBT and I have experienced the frustrations of being questioned for a long time,” wrote Allison Tew, one of the participating students. “I was bullied really badly because of a rumour saying I was bisexual. I think no one deserves to go through that.”
Drama teacher Gaye Burton-Coe showed movies in her class so that the students who wished could remain silent.
“I had a student who came out in high-school a few years ago,” she said. “Kids threw garbage at him. It wasn’t his fault.”
Stephanie Horsley, a talking student, commented on a difference in the school Thursday. “Classes are much quieter and there is a noticeable difference in the hallways between classes. I believe the Day of Silence creates an impact on the school in a very beneficial way.”
Students communicated during the day using notes, body language, and hand signals.
After the Day of Silence, GSA members hosted the Get Loud concert on the WLSS stage.
The Get Loud concert was planned as a positive way to bring the community together and create awareness about homophobia.
“I’m tired of hearing ‘That’s so gay … in the hallways,’ said one of the organizers,” Pherris Herbert.
“It’s not fair to bully someone for who they love. We’re all people, we’re all equal.”
Lexi Saffel, who came out at last year’s concert, opened the evening with a speech about her experience of being bullied.
“People are scared of speaking up,” she said. “Being gay is something you’re not supposed to be.”
Saffel went on to talk about seven boys who committed suicide because of attacks on their sexuality.
“I made it through and things got better. I wish they had stuck around long enough for people to tell them that there is hope, that it’s going to be OK.”
The concert featured 18 acts, including students from both high schools, youth bands Dynamic Downfall and Calling April; and local artist Oren Barter.
The GSA clubs raised $99.16 and eight boxes full of canned food donations for the Salvation Army.
Save On Foods donated items for the concession and 7-Eleven donated door prizes. Sight and Sound and the Guitar Seller also donated lights and special effects.
“This is an incredibly brave and caring group, willing to go outside of their comfort zone to make our community a more tolerant place,” added teacher-sponsor Deirdra Robertson about the students who organized the event.
