Pastor Disapproves of Anti-Bullying Event to Commemorate Matthew Shepard Murder
By Cliff Dunn
MILFORD, CT – Across the U.S., religious and social conservatives have condemned the upcoming April 20 National Day of Silence, a commemoration of the murder of Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard and a day to draw awareness to the evils of bullying and homophobic violence
The American Family Association, Citizens for Community Values, Faith 2 Action, the Family Research Council, the Liberty Counsel, Mission America, and Save California are among the groups that have called for a national student walkout to protest what one Connecticut pastor calls a day to “[promote] vile, graphic, foul language, and child sex.
The Day of Silence was initiated in 1996 as a grassroots project of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). The annual event, held on one day in April, was created to protest the harassment and bullying of LGBT students and other children and teens that are perceived as being “different.” Since 1999, the event has also commemorated the death of Matthew Shepard, the gay University of Wyoming student who was tortured and murdered in October 1998.
According to GLSEN, more than 8,000 schools participate in the annual ‘DAY OF SILENCE’ commemoration, during which students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolize the silencing of LGBT students. GLSEN encourages students to obtain permission from their school before organizing the event.
Last week, Connecticut pastor James Loomer requested that the Milford Board of Education deny permission for students to organize the Day of Silence.
The area’s schools have participated in the event since 2005. His actions were applauded by Tony Perkins, the President of the Family Research Council, who said “we cannot allow these programs like the Day of Silence to come into our schools as a cover for the promotion of homosexuality. That’s what is happening with this so we appreciate Pastor Loomer and others who are drawing attention to this in communities across the country.”
Loomer has accused GLSEN of disseminating materials to children and teens that promote “promiscuity,” describing the group’s literature as “vile, graphic, promoting foul language, and child sex.” Last week, Loomer, the pastor of Milford Christian Church, told Board of Education members that he read an article about GLSEN and its list of “recommended reading” for students.
He reiterated his remarks on Perkins radio program, “Washington Watch Weekly.” “If parents came to know the inappropriateness of materials they’d be enraged,” said Loomer. “I brought this matter to the administration two years ago.” The pastor claimed that the recommended reading list was prepared for students as young as 7th-graders. “It’s revolting,” he said.
Rightwingwatch.org reported this week that “Loomer’s campaign is based on material from rabidly antigay activist Linda Harvey of Mission America, along with debunked claims that [GLSEN] distributes pornographic material to children.” The Web site also noted that “the school board’s own legal counsel and the American Civil Liberties Union [agree] that students have a right to participate in the Day of Silence during non-instructional time.”
Tracy Casey, the Chairwoman of the Milford Board of Education, declined to prohibit the event, citing the board’s attorney who determined that the Day of Silence is protected by the First Amendment. Casey said that no “inappropriate literature” was distributed by GLSEN, and that she had asked the Milford Superintendent of Schools, Elizabeth Feser, to oversee the Day of Silence. The board chair stated that the school system’s top priority is the welfare of the district’s students.
