NEWS
LGBT students hold Capitol rally
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by Michael Gendall
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Dozens of Madison community members and University of Wisconsin students congregated on the steps of the State Capitol Wednesday, participating in a national “Day of Silence” to recognize and protest discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
According to Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network Director Jason Rasmussen, the Day of Silence is the “largest national student-organized protest.”
Founded in 1996, the Day of Silence asks participating middle school, high school, college and university students to use their silence to spread awareness about issues affecting LGBT students.
“It’s using the silence as a tool to object to the silence imposed on LGBT students who are oppressed on a daily basis,” Rasmussen said.
In Madison, the silence was ceremoniously broken on the Capitol steps in a series of personal and oftentimes spontaneous speeches from participants desiring to speak.
Cedric Lawson, introduced as an “outspoken queer leader,” urged people to continue to fight for equality and acceptance.
“It’s not about the volume of your voice, but your voice altogether,” Lawson said. “Make your voice heard and concentrate on the things you have to say. You’ll be surprised by your power of persuasion.”
Lawson finished with the words, “Our silence will not protect us,” quoting the lesbian poet Audre Lorde.
Many of the speakers shared personal stories of their difficulties combating homophobia on a daily basis, and a number of high school and even middle school students proudly proclaimed their homosexuality to the applauding crowd.
GLSEN National Student Organizing Director Christopher Ramirez said he flew to Madison from New York to be a part of the celebration.
“My point of being here is to say thank you to all of you,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez also acknowledged and thanked members of the heterosexual community for their support of LGBT people and the Day of Silence.
“I just want to give a shout-out to one other group of people: all the straight people who are here and participated in the Day of Silence,” Ramirez said.
Preceding the Capitol Square rally was a silent march up State Street from Library Mall.
One of the students in the march, UW junior Michael Bishop, chose to dress in all black and tie a black band around his face covering his mouth. Bishop said he dressed this way to broadcast a “more visible message.”
“This group is out there and needs to be heard,” Bishop said. “We will not go away.”
At the front of the march, students carried a rainbow-striped flag and later draped it over a railing at the top of the Capitol steps. Also in the march was a large banner reading, “Silence = Death.”
The protesters, marching in total silence while some held hands, elicited mostly hushed reactions from State Street observers. They were met with little, if any, vocal reaction, either positive or negative, although a few bystanders quietly applauded.
April is “Out and About” month, which is sponsored by UW’s LGBT student organization to raise awareness about issues and rights surrounding the LGBT community.
