04/17/09

Today, a number of Magic Valley youth and college students joined the nation in a day of silence.

Amber Paine says, "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I’m participating in a day of silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

Alisha Neil says "I’m part of this because I just want to spread the love."

Students from Twin Falls High School, Magic Valley High, Oakley, Wendell, Filer and the college of Southern Idaho joined together to spread the message of the effects of discrimination and abuse of people who are gay.

Paine says, "It shows the silence that is put on people when they have to be silent about who they are."

At CSI a handful of students set up in the student union with masks symbolizing their silence. Some have spent the whole day without saying a word. Many communicating with a pen and paper.
All of them carrying papers telling those curious why they're being silent.

Project twin organizer Alisha Neil, a high school student at Magic Valley Alternative school says they tried the silent protest last year.

Neil says, "People were really rude, they kind of mocked the whole thing, this year I’m not saying it was perfect their were some people who where really rude but there was a lot more support as soon as we came to school their was about 15 kids that asked for masks to participate today."

Students say their teachers understood of their silent protest and didn't force them to talk.

CSI student Amber Paine says she wants people to understand what she and other are going through.

Paine says, "I just want people to understand that we're people too, we have the same rights we don't like being bullied anymore, we didn't ask for who we are."

Neil says, "We want them to see that there’s changes coming that Idaho doesn't have to be this intolerant and hateful place to live we don't want Idaho to fit that stereotype anymore."