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County Commissioner Speaks Out Against Day Of Silence In Schools
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Published: April 9, 2008
TAMPA - Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair said he doesn't condone bullying, but he also doesn't think an effort to stop harassment and name-calling of gay and lesbian students deserves special attention.
In an e-mail sent out to supporters, Blair urged parents to voice their opposition to the April 25 Day of Silence, an event held in schools meant to stop bullying and harassment of gay and lesbian students.
Blair, a Republican running for re-election, said students of all sexual orientations are bullied, and singling out homosexual students gives them a platform to "promote their social and sexual agenda."
"You pray for the people who died in Iraq, but we don't ask what sex they were," Blair said.
Democrat Kevin Beckner, an openly gay candidate who is challenging Blair's re-election bid, accused the commissioner of exploiting the issue for electoral gain.
"I do think he's using this to appeal to his base," Beck- ner said. "We've got these real problems - problems with transportation, we've got growth issues that we're dealing with - but he's focusing on these social wedge issues."
The Day of Silence is a national event sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, which bills itself as an educational organization focused on safety for all students.
Students who participate are supposed to take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to harassment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students. This year the day is dedicated to Lawrence King, a 15-year-old California student who was shot and killed because of his sexual orientation.
Blair, who was chaplain to the county commission for several years and led the board in prayer before every meeting, said he is not prejudiced against gays. He said his stand against the Day of Silence is about treating everyone equally.
"I have friends that are gay," Blair said. "I don't judge somebody or look at somebody because of their sexual orientation or their race or minority status. I think everybody is created equal."
The Hillsborough County School Board has no policy for or against Day of Silence, schools spokesman Stephen Hegarty said. He said students are free to observe the day or not.
"Having students be silent is not really a problem," Hegarty said. "The important thing - and I think Commissioner Blair knows this - this is not something that the school district or the school board is promoting."
In Hillsborough County, the only reported altercation surrounding the event happened three years ago at Bloomingdale High School, where supporters with signs triggered a counter protest by other students. Hegarty said he knows of no problems since then.
Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( Reality ) on April 9, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why would anyone care what half of the former Killer Bees pro wrestling team says about anything, especially since his expertise seems to be in embarrassing Hillsborough County. I don't know which of his stunts is my favorite: getting the lake next to his house spruced up at taxpayer expense, pretending to slip on the floor at the restaurant to sue for damages (before giving a big wrestling demonstration), refusing to give up part of his county car allowance while cutting county staff, or barging uninvited into meetings of other boards to take the side of wealthy supporters who have broken the law. I CANNOT wait to vote for his opponent in the next election!
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Posted by ( ad ) on April 9, 2008 at 8:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Brian, we cannot wait until you are voted out of office and your self centered, arrogant grandisement term is over.
As the saying goes - "I think the lady doth protest too much".
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Posted by ( Yankee ) on April 9, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree with Brian Blair 100%. I don't think that the homosexuals and lesbians should get special treatment because of their "chosen" lifestyle. I don't condone violence nor do I approve of bashing or abusing them. I also have friends and relatives who are gay. I love them to death and I pray for them all the time. I don't pass judgement nor do I condemn them, that is Gods job not mine.
I just thank God that the school my son attends is not participating in that "day of silence."
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Posted by ( rickclewis ) on April 9, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
How can the school district and board permit students to remain silent during school! Aren't students encouraged to interact with their teachers and fellow students! Where is the leadership here?
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Posted by ( 1voice ) on April 9, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Enough is enough. There is no moral grounds on which to predicate further social acceptance of what is clearly defined as a violation of Gods law. This is a further attempt to indoctrinate into our society this perversion of nature by desensitizing our children to this type of behavior.
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Posted by ( 1voice ) on April 9, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Of course it could be a simple case of Political Grandstanding for personal gain..
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Posted by ( Wizardry82 ) on April 9, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
When I was in high school, an openly gay kid told a straight guy that "he wished he could have his way with him." The straight kid, when pulling out of the parking lot that afternoon, saw the gay kid walking and revved his car towards him, hitting the brakes at the last minute.
Who was the bully?
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Posted by ( steph42 ) on April 9, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Parents need to take the time to educate their children on how to treat others with caring and respect. Children who are brought up properly, by caring and communicative parents learn empathy for others and do not become bullies.
Part of the problem is that we live in a "me, me, me" society. When we think of others before ourselves, this doesn't happen.
No matter what anyone says to you or your child, words can not excuse physical violence.
Blair is a terrible commissioner with a history of actions devoted to his own personal benefit. It is very sad that he is attempting to use the issue of the Day of Silence to further his political career.
If the youth wish to protest by pledging to be silent, those youth are exercising their first amendment rights. Part of the benefit of living in this democracy is the ability to exercise that freedom.
No one is forcing them to comply. That was never the intention of the Day of Silence.
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Posted by ( Yankee ) on April 9, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Why not a day of silence for those who are dying or have died for our country? Why not a day of silence for those who were slaves back in the days and may still be?
Why not a day of silence for those who died on 9/11?
Why not a day of silence for those who
have died for a worthy cause?
Why a day of silence for the gay community?
There should be a day of silence to stop violence period and not for anyone in specific (just in general.)
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Posted by ( ad ) on April 9, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
We should never have had this story printed, it gets the Religious Right all excited. The parents who know their children have nothing to worry about, it is the parents who do not know that the middle school children are having sex have a great deal to learn, but never will.
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Posted by ( trueword08 ) on April 9, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
To those who have a problem with this, the schools aren't sanctioning anything. Students have the right to not speak for whatever purpose they see fit, and there is not much any educator or administrator can (or should) do about it. By Blair making this an issue, he has given this event even more publicity and merit. It's time to send this poor excuse for a commissioner back to the ring and get someone on the board who can better serve our county. We definitely have more pressing issues that need our attention.
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Posted by ( unionwoman ) on April 9, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Yankee - We had and still have days of silence for 9-11. It's done on 9-11 and every year since then. We have had and still have moments of silence for those who died in war. In fact they have a holiday. Memorial Day! This day of silence is to stop bullying and intolerance to a group of people that for some reason people like you think its ok to hate. I believe the reason is because of bigots and intolerant people like you. Are you all forgeting that religous intolerance killed Jesus. Do you believe if Jesus was walking around today he would want to kill and ridicule gays? I think not! And if you think so I guess we don't have the same "Jesus".
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Posted by ( JackNelsonSteward ) on April 9, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The students have take a very grown up and somber look at a very real problem and organized themselves to participate in an action designed to highlight it and diminish it. It doesn't cost the school or the county anything and they will have generated for themselves an experience of solidarity against sexually based violence.
Our commmissioner's problem is revealed in the quote "promote their social and sexual agenda."
This is purest right wing boilerplate.
Do you actually believe that fifteen year old gay students have a "social and sexual agenda" Mr. Blair?
At the risk of sounding really out of my element ... You go, kids!
Mr. Blair?
You should go, too.
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Posted by ( Jrtnutt ) on April 15, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I wonder what Mr. Blairs "gay friends" think of him after his comments. This man is clearly not focusing on his job and just trying to bring attention to himself. I am going to encourage my child who is a senior this year to observe the day of silence. As as for the teachers, I am sure they wouldn't mind a day of silence. ;)
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Posted by ( Jaya ) on April 17, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm sorry I'm not here to be mean I'm just telling fact. This is America and as far as I know ths country was/is founded on God, for God and by God. There is nothing in the Bible about gay peoples unless they mean happy. Note gay peeps and happy gay are not one in the same. p.s. I'm not religous I'm faithful.
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Posted by ( Jaya ) on April 17, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't think "Day of Silence' is going to stop anything. It just might give your ears a brake-that's all.
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Posted by ( Jaya ) on April 17, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
oh and p.s. to "Wizard82" they both acted out wrongly twards eachother. Neither was right in their actions.
not to be nosey. =)
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Posted by ( Jaya ) on April 17, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Unionwoman- Are you emplying that Jesus Christ should not have died?
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Posted by ( franchj ) on April 23, 2008 at 3:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mr. Blair's comments show him to be ignorant and prejudiced towards gays. The Day of Silence is to be defended. For those of you who don't know, or pretend to not know there is something in this country called "free speech." In this case the students, by their own choice, have decided to be silent for a cause in which they belive. No one is forcing them. If a student does not want to take part he is entitled to his choice. This is to raise awareness of the harrasments that gay and lesbian students face every day. Have you ever heard "Thats gay." Meaning, of course, thats stupid or abnormal and that is just the tip of the iceberg. The day of silence is there to combat this.
How dare people presume to speak for God. The judge who ruled in the case of Loving v. Virginia on interracial marriage did exactly that; He stated:
"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, Malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."
We know better now don't we. If Jesus were around he would be the first one to be silent. FYI- God is LOVE.
The bottom line is that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects our right to excercise free speech, or in this case the lack of speech. So, Hurrah for the day of silence!!!
P.S. this country was founded on the principles of religious FREEDOM. That means for all religions and faiths, even if you dont have one. I am a christian. However, I am not close minded.
If only those who are closed minded came with closed mouth.
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