Equality in the News: April 11 - 18, 2009

Yesterday, we observed the Day of Silence, which is why this week's roundup wasn't posted. The Day of Silence is a youth movement that symbolizes the silence that so many LGBT students feel in schools. Bullying is just one way to silence LGBT youth. If you haven't already, please check out the Bullying Blog or share your story and help raise awareness for the School Violence Prevention Act.

Now, what you're really here for: your news roundup for the week, just one day later.

• Pamela Jones, a wonderful supporter of ours, wrote an excellent blog on various issues, including the Day of Silence and being a member of Equality NC's Trans Task Force. Be sure to check it out!
• A surprising perspective is featured at Opposing Views about evangelicals, the Day of Silence, and school safety in general. Check it out here.
  
• WRAL of Raleigh has an article detailing the outcome of the Healthy Youth Act, which was voted on in the House this week. Hint: Good news! Check that out here.
  
• The Isaac Hunter's Tavern blog over at WUNC Public Radio also wrote about the success of the Healthy Youth Act in the House. Be sure to click that link, you can listen to audio clips from the debate on the floor if you didn't get to check out our live Twitter updates.
• For Pam's take on the Healthy Youth Act's activity in the House this week, check out this. Fans of HBO's Big Love will appreciate Rep. Paul Stam's prophecies about what's in store for our state.
  
• Although the Healthy Youth Act found support in the House, the Senate will still be tricky. Especially with the opposition stepping up their game with some classic Letters to the Editor like this one in the Mitchell News-Journal out of Mitchell County. We suggest giving your Senator a call or e-mail on Monday to voice your support for healthy youth.
• There are some positive responses to Pam Spaulding's (of Pam's House Blend) article on the Day of Action for the Durham News here.
• Horrible news out of Fayetteville this week. To read more about the possible hate crime that took place, Q-Notes has the story. This unfortunately connects us, as a state, to the national attention being brought to gender expression and hate crimes with the trial for victim Angie Zapata of Colorado. Pam's House Blend is in Colorado covering the trial, which you can read more about here. Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends as they cope with such a profound tragedy.
• Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting on Monday at Duke University. Wilmington's excellent queer blog, Be Yr Own Queero has more information about counter protests, if that's something you'd be interested in.
• The national coverage on bullying is a result of some recent unfortunate circumstances, but it's great to see journalists responsibly tackling the issue on a larger stage. Debra Chasnoff, the talented filmmaker who Equality NC sponsored at several showings of her films in Greensboro recently (films that tackle gender issues and bullying within schools) wrote an excellent column about bullying-related suicides at The Huffington Post. Also, Anderson Cooper 360 had the feature below on their show this week:

That about does it for this week's roundup. We're expecting a busy week next week, with Healthy Youth in the Senate and developments on some of the stories that broke this week. Enjoy this beautiful Spring weather, and we'll see you next time!