Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-487-0693, mclarty@greens.org
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576, nallen@acadia.net
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders are urging
support for the 'Day of Silence' on Wednesday, April 13, a national
protest against antigay discrimination and harassment. The student-led
event is planned for middle school, high school, and college and
university campuses all across the U.S.
During the Day of Silence, participants will
undertake a day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest
discrimination and harassment faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender students, teachers, and staff.
"The Green Party supports full freedom, human
rights, equality, and legal protection regardless of sexual orientation
or gender identity, including same-sex marriage rights and protection
from discrimination," said David Strand, Minnesota Green and
Lavender Green Caucus alternate delegate to the Green Party of the
United States. "We commend the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
Network and the United States Student Association for initiating the Day
of Silence."
Greens also called for passage of a House Concurrent
Resolution in Congress in support of efforts by students to create safer
campus environments for all. The bill (H.Con.Res. 123) specifically
mentions and supports the Day of Silence, and is the only item in
Congress currently to use the terms "gender identity or
expression," "transgender," "lesbian,"
"bisexual," and "gay."
"We challenge Democratic and Republican elected
officials to endorse this bill and get it passed in Congress," said
Jason Jones, Louisiana Green and chair of the national Lavender Green
Caucus. "Regardless of one's politics or religion, there is no
reason to deny any student safety from bias, harassment, or violence on
campus because of sexual orientation or gender or race or disability or
any other basis on which students have faced discrimination. We
especially challenge Democrats after their party began to retreat from
human rights in the wake of the 2004 election."
Greens also noted that an impending vote in Canadian
Parliament on a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in every
province and territory of Canada.
"Election of Greens to public office will make
enactment of such legislation possible in the U.S. one day," said
national Green Party co-chair Jody Grage Haug, who cited the Green
platform's support for same-sex marriage rights and Mayor Jason West of
New Paltz, N.Y., an elected Green who faced legal action for performing
same-sex marriage ceremonies in 2004.
MORE INFORMATION
The Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1711 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
The Day of Silence: A project of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
Network in collaboration with the United States Student Association http://www.dayofsilence.org
Lavender Green Caucus http://www.lavendergreens.org/
