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GSA holds Day of Silence

 

Members of MCCC’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) silenced themselves on Friday, April 15 in a demonstration to raise awareness of bullying.

The demonstration, known as the Day of Silence, took place in the A building outside of the Admissions Office. Several club members tied an array of colorful bandanas around their mouths to symbolize their vow of silence and also passed out literature to those who stopped by their booth.

MCCC’s Day of Silence was part of a national campaign by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and was one of several colleges and high schools to take part. The Day of Silence was contrived to bring attention to harassment against teens for their sexuality.

Mandi Davis, secretary of the GSA, took part in the demonstration and felt that it was important to get her message out to other MCCC students.

“We’re trying to show you we’re tired of the bullying,” Davis said.

Davis wants more people to take the time to educate themselves on how similar gay and bisexual people are to straight people.

“We want you guys to understand that yes, we have attractions to the same sex or even both sexes. But we’re really a human being just trying to live like a straight person,” Davis said.

“Day of Silence to me is very important, especially with hearing about all the teen suicides that have come from bullying against the LGBT community. Why bully someone? If you don’t have something nice to say, then just ignore them or get to know them before you judge them. That could be one life you could save,” Davis said.

Davis said she thought some people who stopped by the booth were opposed to the message, but didn’t let it deter her from her goal.

“I could see some people were like coming by and looking being like ‘oh, they’re doing that day of silence.’ I just stood there and stood proud and tall. I am taking a stand against bullying,” Davis said.

Kimberly Ruttenberg, the GSA treasurer, said she was also proud to take part in the event.

“Its our right to have this day and the freedom to express ourselves in public,” she said.

Davis feels that the event had a very deep meaning and that it also served as a reminder of teens who have committed suicide because of bullying.

“We are honoring those who have fallen or who have taken their own life because of bullying,” Davis said.

“To me it was powerful, knowing that I knew that any of us that took part in