Silence, please! As you know, we here at LPJL are all about the LOUD, aka the aural equivalent of CAPS (sorry, didn’t mean to YELL.) But today, we’re advocating for silence in a number of ways.
First, we want to recognize the silencing of LGBTQ students. We can do that by participating in the GLSEN Day of Silence today, April 27. As GLSEN explains “The Day of Silence is a national movement to highlight the silencing and erasure of LGBTQ students in school, which demands that school leaders take action to be more inclusive.” Nearly a third of LGBTQ students miss some school due to feeling unsafe or uncomfortable. The Day of Silence is a way to support their voices and stand up against bullying!
Speaking of bullies, let’s talk about some anti-choicers! The second way we want to promote silence today is by pointing out that there are lot of nasty types out there who really need to STFU already. Like hater for lyfe Kevin Williamson. This was a guy whose claim to fame was tweeting out that women who have abortions should be executed by hanging, a position that’s extreme even by the hypocritical standards of the “pro-life” crowd. Although we have to admit, “String the varmints up!” is kind of tame compared to some of the poison that gets spewed by the nutcases chanting outside clinics. So who ends up publishing this monster? The Washington “Democracy Dies in Darkness” Post! Great. In a world where many people have to struggle to be heard at all, this turd gets a platform in the Washington Post to spew his vitriolic lies.
Finally, we really want to recommend silence for anyone who ever uses the term “litmus test” in reference to abortion and progressive politics. We’re not saying that people who are anti-choice should be silenced, but there is a time and a place for expressing their beliefs, and it’s called the 19th century. Support for abortion rights isn’t a “litmus test.” It’s a core value. Progressives have a big tent, but clowns are encouraged to go try the sideshow.
OK, we’re having trouble holding back on the CAPS KEY, so we have to wrap this up. After today’s Day of Silence, we’ll be turning the volume back up for more fun and NOISY events like this week’s #ExposeFakeClinics Interactive Theater and this summer’s upcoming Vagical Mystery Tour. See you there—LOUD & PROUD!
