Last week the local media and the Gay & Lesbian Times reported the story of Tyler Chase Harper, a 16 year old who is suing Poway Unified School District over what he claims was a violation of his First Amendment right to free speech after school officials forbade him from wearing a T-shirt stating “Homosexuality is Shameful”. Now one student-led group is responding with its own message.

“As the leader of the GSA [Gay Straight Alliance] at my school, we participated in the Day of Silence and we had a really elaborate event this year that pulled over 350 participants and this issue is really close to me,” said Yve Laris Cohen, who graduated from Scripps Ranch High School earlier this month. “It hit home to have that hate message there and I was frustrated at first that someone would hold these views, but then I thought this was a good thing because we could take this as a learning opportunity and something good can come out of it.”

Cohen is a member of IMPACT, the youth organizing component of the San Diego area chapter of the National Committee for Community and Justice (NCCJ). Members of IMPACT coordinate and put together community projects that are designed to fight bias, bigotry and racism.

“The students we work with are just amazing in general,” said Pedro Anaya, Jr., the NCCJ’s program director. “I think the work that they have been able to do here at IMPACT is actually their voice and their opportunity to do what they are perfectly capable of doing. We’ve just given them an avenue where they can do what they want to do. In this case, the perfect example, there was an issue they had views on and they felt it was important that they respond.”

The response campaign had three components.

“We thought that we had to approach this in a unique way, because we wouldn’t be able to comment on the legal aspects of it, obviously,” Cohen said. “We decided that we respect his rights to say what he did, but we are going to use that same First Amendment right to put forth our message.”

Along with nine other members of IMPACT, a coordinated response was put forth that included a letter-writing campaign to the local media and the production of a banner that stated, “Hate is Shameful”.

“We definitely support free speech, but then there is free speech with responsibility,” Cohen went on to say. “The student’s timing with the Day of Silence, it undermined the goals of the Day of Silence, and it’s a really noble cause. Any time would be ill timed, but to do it on this day, it’s such a hateful message. It all starts with words, ‘homosexuality is shameful’ turns into verbal harassment which turns into physical abuse. … It all starts with negative words like that.”

At a press conference talking about his lawsuit against Poway Unified, Harper objected to the one-sided nature of the Day of Silence observance at his school saying, “I’ve heard many times from teachers, and on days like that and an overall voice from the school and administration, that we need to accept homosexuality. I know the school promotes some wonderful things about preserving our environment and on and on, things that I am in total support of, but people can speak against that, but when it comes to homosexuality or the Gay Straight Alliance club, there are no opposing views. I think it’s wrong that the school can allow so many diverse and opposing views on every other topic but homosexuality.”

In response, members of IMPACT have also extended an invitation to Harper to take part in their week-long summer program Anytown, which gives students an opportunity to discuss issues such as race, religion and sexual orientation in a safe and open environment.

The Anytown model, which began in 1957, has been recognized as one of the top human relations and leadership programs for young people in America. The experience allows students the opportunity to talk about prejudice and discrimination and also feel the pain, rage and injustice of these social ills.

“The reason why we invited him was because it provides a forum for everyone to voice their views, even those that would be seen as destructive or unfavorable,” Cohen explained. “There’s no limit to what you can say, but it’s in an environment that is safe. There will be other students and people there that disagree with him, and hopefully the program will open his eyes.”

She added, “What he said, is that he will accept our invitation and participate in the program if he is able to voice his views, which we’ve made it clear that he would be able to. However the NCCJ has not received his application yet.”

The deadline to apply for the program that takes place in the Palomar Mountains, June 27 through July 2, was June 15. At press time Harper had not filed his application. Anaya said NCCJ will extend the deadline for Harper to apply up to the day prior to the start of the Anytown program on June 27.