More than 100 Estrella Mountain Community College students, faculty and staff wore purple on Wednesday, October 20, in honor of Spirit Day, a day designated by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to raise awareness of anti-gay bullying. The college’s Gay and Straight Alliance (EGSA) hosted a memorial that included readings by EGSA members, information about The Trevor Project, and a pledge by participants to not use anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) slurs; to intervene in situations where students are being harassed; and to support efforts to make EMCC and other schools safe for all students.
The memorial also included a minute of silence for the six young men who recently committed suicide due to homophobic abuse. Tyler Clementi, age 18; Seth Walsh, age 13; Justin Aaberg, age 13; Raymond Chase, age 19; Asher Brown, age 13; and Billy Lucas, age 15; all ended their lives due to torment by their peers about their sexual orientation. Videos by The Trevor Project, a crisis and suicide prevention resource for LGBT youth struggling with feelings of hopelessness caused by this kind of abuse, were shown at the memorial, urging students to understand that “It gets better.”
“Please understand that you are not alone,” said EGSA member, Allison Garcia who read a speech written by friend, Mark Valenzuela.
EGSA member, Christopher Whitelaw also urged listeners to understand that while things may be difficult right now, there are alternatives to suicide, “There is still not enough understanding,” he said. “Take it from someone who has been there, it gets better.”
The term “Spirit Day” and the color purple were chosen because the purple stripe in the Rainbow Flag, a symbol of LGBT pride, represents spirit.
For more information about The Trevor Project, visit thetrevorproject.org.