Day of Silence -- Join Me?

Goodness gracious, has it really been a year since I started this journey of mine?

Okay, rhetorical question. Don't answer, please. I feel old enough already.

Hello again, everyone, and let’s give a bit of applause for all you readers out there. Seriously. Pat yourself on the back. It’s Friday. You made it through the week. Ina few hours, classes will be over and it’ll be the weekend. Proms going on, spring storms, lovely weather, naps in the sunshine -- really, what more could I ask for?

Well, I could ask for silence.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you read that right. Today, I want you to be silent.

April 15, 2011 is the National Day of Silence, which is a day of action in which students all across the world take soem form of a vow of silence. It’s to call attention to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment and the overall effect of silence it has on the LGBT community.

I mean, there are some drawbacks to taking a vow of silence -- you don’t talk. Period. Uless you’re in a class and a teacher directly asks you something, because you have to answer, as you’d be forced to answer the question anyway whether you could speak ot not.

But think about it. Being silent for a day. Can you imagien the impact it would have? Think about all of your friends, all of your teachers and adult figures. Think of everyone you know. And now turn off the volume.

Isn’t that amazing? Think of what the world would say. the attention it would draw!

Think about the people you would help, the people you would, by staying silent, help find a voice for. It could be anyone. You brother or sister, a best friend, the person you like. It could be a parent. It could be anyone, and you could help make their life just a little bit easier.

You could make the world a little bit better.

Join me. Join my college’s Gay-Straight Alliance organization. Join GLSEN. Join thousands of other students and adults and people, people like you and me, all over the world as we spend a day in silence to call attention to the effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment that atkes place within out schools.

Join me, help organize this change.

Join me. Join us.

Accept the challenge.

Ever yours,
The Night Thief

"Uganda: Promptly Investigate Killing of Prominent LGBT Activist"

Published on January 27th, 2011 on Human Rights Watch [www.hwr.org/].

"Police in Uganda should urgently and impartially investigate the killing of the prominent human rights activist David Kato, Human Rights Watch said today. Kato had dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender persons (LGBT) in Uganda, facing threats and risks to his personal safety.

The government should ensure that members of Uganda's LGBT community have adequate protection from violence and take prompt action against all threats or hate speech likely to incite violence, discrimination, or hostility toward them, Human Rights Watch said.

"David Kato's death is a tragic loss to the human rights community," said Maria Burnett, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. "David had faced the increased threats to Ugandan LGBT people bravely and will be sorely missed."

Witnesses told police that a man entered Kato's home in Mukono at around 1 p.m. on January 26, 2011, hit him twice in the head and departed in a vehicle. Kato died on his way to Kawolo hospital. Police told Kato's lawyer that they had the registration number of the vehicle and were looking for it."

There you have it folks, once more, the LGBT community faces a blow in their quest for equality.

Stay tuned for a lovely rant on humanity today. <3

Much love,
The Night Thief