Day of Silence, Night of Policy Change, Still No Equality

Day of Silence, Night of Policy Change, Still No Equality

Late Thursday night, President Obama publicized a new memorandum which extends medical rights to same-sex couples, specifically allowing them hospital visitation even if they are not married. The timing of Obama's announcement couldn't have been more serendipitous; Friday was the Day of Silence, a GLSEN and Gay-Straight Alliance organized event where students across the country stayed completely silent for a day as a show of support for gay rights. The annual event is centered around bullying and harassment in schools of gay students, as well as gay rights issues in general. "I'm not gay, bi, etc," one participating student wrote as way of communication. "I just believe that people should be able to express themselves any way they want to. I see nothing wrong with these people, and believe that they should be able to live normal lives, without all the harassment." "My uncle is gay," another scrawled, "so I'm a huge supporter."
The Obama decision was welcome news to the students, although it is not nearly as sweeping as it should be. America is hardly finished achieving equality, and while the medical policy changes are a fantastic symbolic victory, unequal laws- like civil unions, or in some states, no unions- and unequal treatment- like harassment- still are prevalent. Friday morning, on the heels of the Obama announcement, news came out over the fervor made when a White House official's sexuality was challenged wrongly. The fact that this libelous statement made such a fuss is just a mark of how divided America still is over this basic issue of human rights.