On Friday, April 25, 2008, LGBT youth and their allies will participate in the 2008 National Day of Silence (DOS). This year's event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, the 15-year-old California student who was shot and killed by a 14-year old classmate because of King's sexual orientation and gender expression.
NLGJA encourages news organizations to take the opportunity presented by this national event to report on issues of bullying, harassment and violence on LGBT youth.
Students participating in the DOS will distribute cards to faculty and others that read, in part: "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. This year's DOS is held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15 year-old student who was killed in school because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness. Think about the voices you are not hearing today."
While the killing of Lawrence King drew the attention of many national news organizations, his is only one story. A 2005 survey by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) — DOS is a project of the organization — reported that "four out of five LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and 29% [reported] missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety."
Potential stories include:
- Straightforward coverage of the DOS.
- An examination of what, if any, policies exist in local school systems to deter bullying and harassment.
- Are student organizations like Gay/Straight Alliances permitted on school campuses?
- What employment protections exist for LGBT faculty and staff in local school systems and what message does that send to students?
- What community resources exist for LGBT youth and their families outside the school system?
DOS offers an opportunity for news organizations to provide their audiences with information for important dialogue amongst students, parents, school and local officials, and the community at large about the state of our schools and the safety of young people.
NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.
Media Contact
Thomas Cashman Avila
Deputy Executive Director
Office: 202-588-9888, ext. 17
Mobile
: 202-906-9885
tavila@nlgja.org
