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FROM THE MARGINS:
Hurting people is not a virtue
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By PATRICK AZADIAN
It was a telling moment full of courage. Annie Orudzhyan stood silently as Ariel Lupton placed red tape on her mouth during a demonstration at Glendale High School on April 25. Students and teachers sat in a silent protest against harassment and discrimination.
The protest was part of a national initiative known as the Day of Silence. During the protest, students don’t speak for a day to call attention to how gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are “silenced” by harassment and bullying in schools.
The protest raised some eyebrows around town. A small but loud group of parents viewed the day of protest as promoting homosexuality. It brought back the tired argument that if you burry your head in the sand long enough, some of the things you have a personal distaste for will go away. But in reality, eradicating homosexuality is less likely than bringing back the dinosaurs through regeneration from DNA.
The Day of Silence was not just about homosexuality. It was also about students taking a stance against discrimination and coming together to practice their First Amendment rights.
In reference to the issue of student rights, Glendale Unified School District Supt. Michael Escalante said: “When students walk into a school, they don’t put aside their First Amendment rights.”
I personally cannot see how the school district could have forced the students to speak if they chose to stay silent.
The protest was an opportunity to once again witness the level of homophobia that exists in our community. Although the phenomenon is not unique to any single racial or ethnic group, segments of the Armenian-American community came under criticism during the protest. The criticism was justified.
Compared to the cosmopolitan surroundings we live in, the Armenian-American community suffers from a severe case of homophobia.
It is clear how homophobia can hurt gay people. But it can affect the lives of straight individuals as well. Sadly, to this day, the worst insult a young man can receive in the community is being labeled as “gay.” A crook, a drunk or a drug addicts rank far better than that the feared label.
The labeling process can start at a young age. If girls like your son, if your daughter likes to play sports or your son likes to play the piano, if your son does not like to torture the family pet for fun or resolve his conflicts with violence, as long as we suffer from homophobia, he or she may be in danger of being labeled as “gay.”
This can lead to years of cruel and unusual punishment and bullying by classmates.
The labeling can continue through adulthood. Labeling is one of the most common tactics used in an attempt to eliminate the competition from the arenas of business, politics and even dating. The tactic is not reserved for the masses, but the so-called educated and the elite also employ the “smear” campaign from time to time.
Homophobia can have a domino effect on members of society. A young man who has been hurled the label, for example, has a few ways to respond.
He can choose not to respond and shrug off the label, which in some people’s eyes will be further proof of his orientation. He can fight back against the label, which can turn him into a homophobe in the long run.
In a homophobic society, men try very hard to fit the stereotypical image of a macho being. They may be disrespectful to women in front of their friends, avoid buying that red Mini Cooper they have wanted all their lives, refuse to be seen in public with friends who happen to be gay, and stay away from movie theaters that feature French flicks.
This is often done in the name of tradition. This is when old values become justifications for hurting people. Homophobia is a conduit to box people into needless categories from a young age.
There was a time when I was surprised at the effort people would go through to hurt others. Now I expect it.
But on the bright side, we have our students who chose to take a stand.
The protest’s message was clear: Even if I am not directly affected by harassment, hate crimes and bullying, I stand by my friends who have and may suffer. And I have enough self belief to not care about being labeled.
It was brave, indeed.
PATRICK AZADIAN is a writer and the creative director of a local marketing and graphic design studio living in Glendale. He may be reached at respond@ fromthemargins.net.
The protest was part of a national initiative known as the Day of Silence. During the protest, students don’t speak for a day to call attention to how gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth are “silenced” by harassment and bullying in schools.
The protest raised some eyebrows around town. A small but loud group of parents viewed the day of protest as promoting homosexuality. It brought back the tired argument that if you burry your head in the sand long enough, some of the things you have a personal distaste for will go away. But in reality, eradicating homosexuality is less likely than bringing back the dinosaurs through regeneration from DNA.
The Day of Silence was not just about homosexuality. It was also about students taking a stance against discrimination and coming together to practice their First Amendment rights.
In reference to the issue of student rights, Glendale Unified School District Supt. Michael Escalante said: “When students walk into a school, they don’t put aside their First Amendment rights.”
I personally cannot see how the school district could have forced the students to speak if they chose to stay silent.
The protest was an opportunity to once again witness the level of homophobia that exists in our community. Although the phenomenon is not unique to any single racial or ethnic group, segments of the Armenian-American community came under criticism during the protest. The criticism was justified.
Compared to the cosmopolitan surroundings we live in, the Armenian-American community suffers from a severe case of homophobia.
It is clear how homophobia can hurt gay people. But it can affect the lives of straight individuals as well. Sadly, to this day, the worst insult a young man can receive in the community is being labeled as “gay.” A crook, a drunk or a drug addicts rank far better than that the feared label.
The labeling process can start at a young age. If girls like your son, if your daughter likes to play sports or your son likes to play the piano, if your son does not like to torture the family pet for fun or resolve his conflicts with violence, as long as we suffer from homophobia, he or she may be in danger of being labeled as “gay.”
This can lead to years of cruel and unusual punishment and bullying by classmates.
The labeling can continue through adulthood. Labeling is one of the most common tactics used in an attempt to eliminate the competition from the arenas of business, politics and even dating. The tactic is not reserved for the masses, but the so-called educated and the elite also employ the “smear” campaign from time to time.
Homophobia can have a domino effect on members of society. A young man who has been hurled the label, for example, has a few ways to respond.
He can choose not to respond and shrug off the label, which in some people’s eyes will be further proof of his orientation. He can fight back against the label, which can turn him into a homophobe in the long run.
In a homophobic society, men try very hard to fit the stereotypical image of a macho being. They may be disrespectful to women in front of their friends, avoid buying that red Mini Cooper they have wanted all their lives, refuse to be seen in public with friends who happen to be gay, and stay away from movie theaters that feature French flicks.
This is often done in the name of tradition. This is when old values become justifications for hurting people. Homophobia is a conduit to box people into needless categories from a young age.
There was a time when I was surprised at the effort people would go through to hurt others. Now I expect it.
But on the bright side, we have our students who chose to take a stand.
The protest’s message was clear: Even if I am not directly affected by harassment, hate crimes and bullying, I stand by my friends who have and may suffer. And I have enough self belief to not care about being labeled.
It was brave, indeed.
PATRICK AZADIAN is a writer and the creative director of a local marketing and graphic design studio living in Glendale. He may be reached at respond@ fromthemargins.net.
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