`Day of Silence` Will Make Noise at GLCC

‘Day of Silence’ Will Make Noise at GLCC
GLSEN Marks April 10 as Moment to Protest Gay and Lesbian Discrimination
By Logan Stone
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight
Education Network (GLSEN) has marked
April 10 as a Day of Silence in schools
across the country to protest discrimination
against gays.
The effort, which the organization says
is now the largest student-led gay-related
action in the country, will find thousands of
students nationwide taking a vow of silence
for one day at school.
Over 500 schools nationwide have
already registered to participate, with more
being added daily.
The movement is being led and carried
out by students who are against homophobia
in schools, and it is being coordinated with
the assistance of GLSEN.
“The Day of Silence is addressing the
needs of countless young people who want
to end anti-gay bias in their schools,” said
GLSEN Deputy Executive Director Eliza
Byard. “It is our hope that schools pay
attention to what our students are
experiencing, and work to create
environments that are safe and respectful
places for all.”
Instead of speaking, high school and
college students participating in the
campaign will hand out cards, or wear
stickers or T-shirts, with a statement written
on them to educate their teachers and peers.
“Please understand my reasons for not
speaking today,” the statement reads. “I am
participating in the Day of Silence, a national
student movement protesting the silence faced
by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people
and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes
that silence which is caused by harassment,
prejudice and discrimination. I believe that
ending the silence is the first step toward
fighting these injustices.”
Local students have also planned a
community-wide ‘Breaking the Silence’ rally
in Fort Lauderdale from 5-7pm on April 10 at
the Gay and Lesbian Community Center at
1717 N. Andrews Ave.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale chapter of
GLSEN, which has worked to combat
harassment and discrimination against
students and school personnel largely
through training efforts, is already in conflict
with the Broward County School Board.
The board voted against a formalization
of a partnership between GLSEN and the
school’s Office of Diversity and Cultural
Outreach last October.
On February 5, GLSEN announced a
new campaign to rally the community
towards taking a stand against their
perceived injustice.
“Without the partnership agreement,
we cannot work to protect a student in any
instance of harassment,” said GLSEN Cochair Mike Record at the time. “This is
essentially a school safety issue.”
According to the organization’s most
recent survey of gay issues in schools, more
than 8 out of 10 gay students hear the words
‘faggot’ and ‘dyke’ frequently or often, and
a similar number say faculty or staff never
intervene to stop the comments.
For more information of the event, visit
www.dayofsilence.org.
Free HIV Testing Available at Annual Conference
Caregivers Come Together in Davie to Learn and Get Support
By Mary Damiano
Dr. Sean Kenniff, who gained fame as
one of the original contestants on
Survivor, is the keynote speaker at the
4th Annual Sharing Wisdom Conference
Seniors HIV Intervention Project (SHIP)
will offer free HIV testing to anyone wants it
at the Fourth Annual Sharing Wisdom
Conference, held Wednesday, April 17, 8:304:30, at Signature Grande in Davie.
SHIP Outreach Coordinator Alyx
Schaffer believes the conference will be a good
place to reach a section of the community that
is often missed by HIV awareness education.
“We’re trying to reach out to the broader
public,” Shaffer says. “We’re hoping to make
a big impact with giving out information.”
While statistics show that seniors are one of
the fastest growing groups testing positive for
HIV, Schaffer points out that that’s true in Florida
because there is a higher percentage of seniors to
begin with. “Due to, perhaps, divorces and
widowhood, they’re into the next realm of dating.
They tend to forget about protection and the
condom, which they never liked to begin with.
We need to get the information out to them so
they can take care of themselves.”
The Sharing Wisdom Conference is
designed to help caregivers not only take better
care of their loved ones, but also to take better
care of themselves.
Gary Barg, editor-in-chief of Today’s
Caregiver magazine, believes that the most
important and overlooked aspect of caregiving
is that if caregivers don’t take care of
themselves first, they won’t be able to take care
of someone else.
The conference has become a popular
resource for professional and family
caregivers; the largest conference had about
700 attendees. “It really is an event that
caregivers shouldn’t miss,” says Barg.
“There’s so much value to a caregiver on so
many different levels. They discover they’re
not alone. They can ask their questions to
people who have the answers. And there’s a
huge community of other caregivers out there
who are willing to support their efforts.”
The seminar topics at the conference include
legal issues, long term care, alternative therapies,
nutrition, hospice and handling stress.
“It really is one of the rare environments
where family and professional caregivers can get
together and learn from each other,” says Steven
Barg, publisher and CEO of Today’s Caregiver.
Dr. Sean Kenniff, who gained fame as one
of the original contestants on Survivor, and
who is currently a health and science reporter
on the local CBS affiliate, will be the keynote
speaker at the luncheon. Awards will also be
presented to what Today’s Caregiver calls
CareHeroes, caregivers who have been
nominated for their extraordinary work.
In addition to SHIP, there will be many
exhibitors at the conference, including
representatives form various assisted living
facilities, local hospitals and hospice.
The seminars are not disease specific and
instead focus on more general aspects of
caregiving. “It’s important to realize that
there’s a lot to be gained from caregivers of
people living with illnesses and diseases that
are not the same as what your loved one’s
living with,” says Gary Barg.
Alyx Schaffer also hopes that the people
who attend the conference share the
information with others. She feels that one of
the most important things seniors can do for
their children and grandchildren is pass on the
message about safe sex. “We need
reinforcement from the senior population to
help enforce the message to the youth. We
have to keep reiterating to everyone that HIV
has got us from cradle to beyond. It’s not a
discriminatory kind of disease.”
Admission to the conference is $35 in
advance or $45 at the door, and includes the
seminars, continental breakfast, snacks and the
luncheon. A special feature of the conference
is aimed at professionals, who can earn CEUs
at the conference. CEUs are $75 in advance
and $85 at the door. To register for the
conference, call 954.893.8550 or register
online at www.caregiver.com.
www.ExpressGayNews.com • April 8, 2002
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