I started the GRP in 2008 in response to a call from some Christian groups  urging parents to keep their kids home on the Day of Silence. I also wanted to respond to the Day of Truth (now called Day of Dialogue) which in my view is not a constructive way to address the very real problem of bullying and anti-gay harassment in schools.

Students in high schools and colleges around the country have carried GRP pledge cards to school. Some have made clear statements to GLBT peers that they stand with them against bullying and harassment. Some churches (I have no way of knowing the number since the materials are free on the website) have used the bullying prevention materials designed for church youth groups. The Los Angeles School District has the GRP on the calendar for April of 2012.

I am always on the alert for volunteers nationally who desire to focus on ending bullying. If interested, email me.

Background:

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy called on Congress to enact comprehensive legislation to protect the civil rights of African-Americans, including the right to enter institutions of higher education.  In his famous speech, often referred to as “The Civil Rights Speech,” he appealed to a principle of ethics which has become known as the Golden Rule: the idea that we should treat others in the way we would like to be treated. The Golden Rule is an expression of the rule of reciprocity and is a basis for treating well even those with whom we have strong disagreement.

The lesson then reviews the famous Civil Rights Speech by President John F. Kennedy where he used the Golden Rule to call all Americans to support full civil rights protections for African-Americans.

In response, I created a GRP Fan Page on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/goldenrulepledge

Please click the link and click the Like button there.

Parents carry on anti-bullying message: wivb.com

Jamey Rodemeyer’s parents believe years of bullying drove their son to suicide. The Williamsville North freshman took his life Sunday, he was only 14 years old.

Jamey Rodemeyer posted a message online hoping that others would be inspired by his struggle with bullying. A part of the message reads, “That’s all you have to do. Just love yourself and you’re set. And I promise you, it’ll get better.”

Soon after coming home from a family camping trip, Jamey was found dead Sunday. His parents say he was always under pressure because of struggles with his sexuality.

Jamey’s mother Tracy Rodemeyer said, “So he hung around with the girls a lot, so then the teasing started happening like ‘Oh you’re such a girl or you’re gay or whatever and that bothered him for many years.”

For religious conservatives reading this: Isn’t it past time to become part of the solution? Criticizing anti-bullying programs on ideological grounds doesn’t help kids or your ideology.

More on the situation:

Death catches attention across nation: wivb.com

Click here for the resource page.

For me, it was an incredible day. The Lord speaks in silence, and that’s what he did for me. Through my prayer about showing love to others, the Lord really revealed His love for me. I had the opportunity to pass out several flyers and I could tell our actions made people think. I had a few people from the community, many homosexual themselves, tell me what an impact it made to see christians participating on their behalf. One of them commented that they “aren’t seeking approval, just kindness.”

The days following the DOS have had the most impact on me. I know that God used those quiet moments to open my eyes and change my heart. My heart breaks to see followers of Jesus Christ show such hatred, condemnation and cruelty to people our Father yearns to love. I wish every day could be the day of silence.. and I’m really aiming to show love in a revolutionary way on a daily basis.

I am a Christian musician and song writer. The Christian music industry can get pretty tricky, many times the gospel gets watered down and theology gets twisted for the sake of selling records. I’m in the process of recording my first album and it has been such a trying time for me.

On one side, Nashville tells you to write a certain “fluffy” kind of music, the kidn that doesn’t offend anyone or challenge anyone in the least. That’s the kind of music that sells record. It’s tempting, I’ll be honest.

On the other hand, I have the calling the Lord has put on my ministry. I don’t want to write safe music. I want to challenge the church, speak of the Lord’s love and shake things up. I don’t know how many records I’ll sell, but if it helps to change even one person, I can honestly say it would be worth it.

I guess all of that is to say thanks. This one day has changed my life and my heart is full of love for gay community. You didn’t know it would happen, but through you and the Golden Rule, God has affirmed my purpose.

Yesterday was the Day of Silence. A national event where students on their campuses are silent for the entire day to bring awareness to the silencing of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) students. This community has been daily silenced by the name-calling, bullying, and harassment simply because of their sexuality. Many Christians are confused about how to respond to this day because they do not agree with homosexuality, but they do agree that hatred based on it is not acceptable.

This year I decided to get involved. I went to Campus Crusade for Christ as well as Intervarsity Fellowship to present the idea of participating. They both said they wanted to participate but I was absolutely astonished when Campus Crusade said that not only did they want to support it as individuals, but as a ministry. When I heard this, my heart was pounding- it was a prayer come true.
I can’t give you a count of how many students from the ministries actually participated. It might have been one, or many. But to me, it was their sincere desire to do something that really hit me hard. I have long been frustrated with the Christian community’s response to the GLBT group. When Crusade called me, a little piece of anger towards the church was cast away.

Students at our school chose to participate by duct taping their mouths shut in complete silence, and when people asked why, handing them a slip of paper that explained. While I was more than fine with doing this, I wanted to do more. I wanted to make it clear that not only do I love them, but Christ does also. So I made my own slips, not to preach, but to break down the walls between the Christian and LGBT communities. The slips I made said this:

“Today I am pledging to be silent to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment experienced by LGBT students.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31

As a follower of Christ, I believe that all people are created in the image of God and therefore deserve love and respect.”

Yesterday morning, when I went to the SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) table to receive my piece of duct tape, I showed them my slips and told them that several ministries would be participating as well. The look on their faces was priceless. They were shocked, but ecstatic. This alone would have been enough to make my day.

But there was still more to be done. Eric Heistand from Campus Crusade for Christ had the idea of bringing a flower to the head faculty advisor of SAGA. We left flowers and a card that read,

“Dear Mary Ballard and SAGA: As followers of Christ, we want to stand beside you in silence to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment on college campuses around the world directed toward the LGBT community. We believe that all people have been created in the image of God and therefore have infinite worth and dignity. May these flowers and our silence be a symbol of our desire to show true love and concern. May they also be small step in breaking down some of the walls that sometimes divide us. In silence we stand with you, Jordyne Krumroy Eric Heistand on behalf of Campus Crusade for Christ.”

At 5 pm, the students who participated gathered at a theatre to break the silence by letting a scream go and then talking about their experiences. I was 10 minutes late due to a nap, but when I got there people greeted me with hugs, handshakes, and smiling faces. I discovered that Mary Ballard, the teacher who we gave the flowers and card, read the card aloud to the community.

People came up to me shocked. Over and over, people said to me, “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’m amazed. Thank you!” The students seemed really surprised that a ministry, especially a Christian ministry would do that. I talked with several students, but one student spoke with me for a while. She told me that she was so surprised and couldn’t believe her eyes that she had to read the card twice even before it was read aloud. I’m so grateful for the relationships that were begun yesterday just by pledging to be silent for less than 24 hours. Later that night I went to eat with several of them and hung out until the wee hours of the morning. It was wonderful.

To those of you reading, I wish I could tell you in person because this day deserves more than a short summary. Yesterday, the LGBT community saw something revolutionary- they saw Christians loving them and more than that, they saw the love of Christ. What would happen if next year, hundreds of Christian students walked around with duct tape in silence?

I have to tell you about how I felt yesterday walking around in silence with duct tape. I felt humiliated at times, and other times proud. You see, everywhere I went, people stared. I felt like a leper, completely stigmatized from people. In fact, I was experiencing what the LGBT community has experienced for decades.

As I was walking to my dorm, I realized why 30% of LGBT students report having missed one or more days of school per year out of fear. Walking by a dorm, someone opened their window and yelled a derogatory statement to me. I was scared. There was such anger in his voice that I was fearful to walk by the dorm again later that day. I was reminded of Lawrence King, a 14 year old who was murdered because of his homosexuality just two months ago.

Yesterday was amazing. The best day of the year by far. The truth is, this group has been disappointed by the church. I know that as people read that, some will become angry with me. ‘Not my church’ they will say. But when “Christians” hold signs on campus that read, “ God hates Fags.” and “fags burn in hell,” the LGBT community associates that with Christianity. Many people have told me that they have never said anything derogatory to the gay community, but the problem is they haven’t said anything at all. You see, half of the church is screaming hate at them, and the other half is silent. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that silence is powerful. The failure to not say anything, has said a lot.

This [Golden Rule Pledge] was a great first step for me to get out there in ministry. So thanks so much to you!

I don’t know how to end this note, but hopefully there won’t be an end. This is just the beginning…

I have to tell you, I am moved and humbled. I am proud of those Campus Crusade and IVP ministries and others like them around the country who stepped away from fear and up to the plate. More stories to come…

“A middle school student who is bullied daily doesn’t care about religious differences. He needs help,” said Warren Throckmorton, a psychology professor at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

Throckmorton is the co-creator of the Golden Rule Pledge – an initiative that encourages respect and concern toward GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) persons without compromising beliefs – which has produced a new youth curriculum that tackles gay bashing and bullying.

The resources are available here for free download.