Letter from the DRHS Parents for Truth group

Protest the “National Day of Silence” on April 25, 2008

Students plan to skip school in protest

Were you aware that Desert Ridge High School has a student club called GLAS (Gay, Lesbian and Straight club)? This club is promoting participation in the annual Day of Silence on April 25th. This is a project of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) who encourage students and teachers to be silent all day to bring attention to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender cause. Students at Desert Ridge have not been allowed to voice opposition to this day or wear clothing that states their opposition. Yet those in support of the Day of Silence are allowed to wear t-shirts supporting it, put posters of support all over the school, hand out cards encouraging students to embrace this cause and are allowed to not participate in class discussions for the day.

If you read the propaganda on the Day of Silence website and then visit the GLSEN website you will see that these groups are interested in much more than awareness of bullying and harassment. These organizations are trying to ensure that anything less than endorsement of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender lifestyles will not be tolerated in our schools or by our students. They want to modify school policies to include language which would remove the rights of those opposed to these lifestyles including the right to state our moral, religious, or even just personal belief that this is wrong. They do not feel anyone with an opinion or belief different from theirs should be able to express that opinion or belief.

For many of us what these groups are promoting is no different than if they were encouraging our kids to drink, smoke or take drugs. We all take measures to keep our children from being influenced by the things we feel are wrong or not healthy for their lives. This is another opportunity to help protect your child from just one of the many aspects of our society that are trying to become accepted as the norm.

Join us in keeping your children out of school on Friday, April 25, 2008 in order to send a message to the school administration, school board, our community and our country that we do not believe that social or political activism should be allowed in our schools.

Many parents are not aware that this club is promoting the Day of Silence. Please pass this information on to your family, neighbors and friends.

More information regarding opposing the Day of Silence can be found at http://members.cox.net/DRHSparentsfortruth