REFUSE TO SPEAK TODAY: ¨...join a symbolic act of solidarity for those voices we've lost and are losing to homophobia and gender violence.¨

¨Across the country today, young people are contemplating suicide, and being thrown out of their homes and their houses of worship because of their sexual orientation as an LGBT person.

Other students, moved by the statistics about their peers and personally knowing someone affected, will be placing tape over their mouths or otherwise refusing to speak as a symbolic act of solidarity for those voices we've lost and are losing to homophobia and gender violence. It's Good Friday... a week early.

The deaths of these young people are as tragic as the ones from complications due to HIV/AIDS in the 1980s-90s that still plague communities today. And as Marc Adams of HeartStrong was saying at our PFLAG  HERE meeting last night, the frustration is that even with all that has happened to make being gay "more acceptable", children (especially) are still dying because of societal prejudice.

Once again, tomorrow, we will not be silent, you can count on it.

I bring this up because we all have to remain constant in our efforts to send a message of hope to our queer youth that you have people and groups... even some faith communities... who will take you in and give you the welcome and the shelter you need to survive. And, believe me, things really are getting better... at least in the United States....¨   HERE

· Thanks to Wake Up and Live, sidebar
· Thanks to Susan
· Thanks to PFLAG, ¨Moving Equality Forward¨