LGBT Network gives youths a night to make noise against bullying, hate speech by smashing a wall
Teens spray paint a cinder block wall during the LGBT Network Night of Noise event in Hauppauge on Friday Credit: Barry Sloan
Jace Hunt, 11, of Bay Shore, took his turn with a can of spray paint to write hateful speech or names he had been called on a cinder block wall Friday night at the LGBT Network Hauppauge Center.
He spray painted the word “Hate.”
An hour later, he smashed the wall with a sledgehammer.
The shattering was part of the LGBT Network “Day of Silence/Night of Noise,” which gives LGBT youth a way to push back against bullying and the names or phrases they’ve been called in school or by other teens.
“It’s really cool for people like me to be here, in a place to be ourselves,” Jace said. “No one can judge me because we all share things in common. It’s nice we can express how we feel. Anyone who said they hate me to my face, I don’t care anymore because I can be myself.”
Friday night’s event is part of the annual Day of Silence to commemorate bullying and isolation LGBTQ students face. Traditionally, students practice silence before expressing themselves at night.
“This is a lifeline to kids to combat bullying and it’s something powerful for themselves, knowing they can break it and bullying doesn’t have to break them,” LGBT Network CEO Robert Vitelli said.
Before Jace took his swing at the wall, his mother said she brought him to the event to help him feel more accepted.
“As a parent, we’re always looking for resources for our children and a place to feel safe and be heard,” Angela Pharr said. “It’s heartbreaking to know the statistics and knowing he is being bullied. It feels good knowing he has people in his community who can understand what he’s going through.”
Vitelli noted the Day of Silence had waned in recent years because LGBTQ issues had become more widely known and the LGBTQ community had spoken up against prejudice.
Nine of 10 teens experienced bullying or anti-LGBTQ discrimination on a regular basis, Vitelli said. Teens can often drop out of school due to bullying and 20% to 30% of teens attempted suicide, Vitelli said. About 40% of teens may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with bullying, he said.
“Kids want to speak out and that’s the power of the Night of Noise. They should speak up and say that’s not OK,” Vitelli said. “This helps introduce a positive coping mechanism for kids to speak up and have a positive outlet.”
Among the messages written on the cinder block wall, several teens wrote gay slurs and other hate speech, along with common homophobic tropes like, “It’s just a phase,” and “I’ll change your mind.”
After sundown, the group of more than 30 teens took turns swinging the sledgehammer to chip away at the hate speech used to demean them.
Austin Groverman, 13, of Lake Grove, came to Friday night’s event with her father to celebrate acceptance in the LGBTQ community and push back against bullying.
“People may say things about me behind my back, but it’s still hurtful,” she said. “We’re part of a group that doesn’t hurt anyone and it’s hurtful when you haven’t done anything wrong.”
Jace Hunt, 11, of Bay Shore, took his turn with a can of spray paint to write hateful speech or names he had been called on a cinder block wall Friday night at the LGBT Network Hauppauge Center.
He spray painted the word “Hate.”
An hour later, he smashed the wall with a sledgehammer.
The shattering was part of the LGBT Network “Day of Silence/Night of Noise,” which gives LGBT youth a way to push back against bullying and the names or phrases they’ve been called in school or by other teens.
“It’s really cool for people like me to be here, in a place to be ourselves,” Jace said. “No one can judge me because we all share things in common. It’s nice we can express how we feel. Anyone who said they hate me to my face, I don’t care anymore because I can be myself.”
Friday night’s event is part of the annual Day of Silence to commemorate bullying and isolation LGBTQ students face. Traditionally, students practice silence before expressing themselves at night.
“This is a lifeline to kids to combat bullying and it’s something powerful for themselves, knowing they can break it and bullying doesn’t have to break them,” LGBT Network CEO Robert Vitelli said.
Before Jace took his swing at the wall, his mother said she brought him to the event to help him feel more accepted.
“As a parent, we’re always looking for resources for our children and a place to feel safe and be heard,” Angela Pharr said. “It’s heartbreaking to know the statistics and knowing he is being bullied. It feels good knowing he has people in his community who can understand what he’s going through.”
Vitelli noted the Day of Silence had waned in recent years because LGBTQ issues had become more widely known and the LGBTQ community had spoken up against prejudice.
Nine of 10 teens experienced bullying or anti-LGBTQ discrimination on a regular basis, Vitelli said. Teens can often drop out of school due to bullying and 20% to 30% of teens attempted suicide, Vitelli said. About 40% of teens may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with bullying, he said.
“Kids want to speak out and that’s the power of the Night of Noise. They should speak up and say that’s not OK,” Vitelli said. “This helps introduce a positive coping mechanism for kids to speak up and have a positive outlet.”
Among the messages written on the cinder block wall, several teens wrote gay slurs and other hate speech, along with common homophobic tropes like, “It’s just a phase,” and “I’ll change your mind.”
After sundown, the group of more than 30 teens took turns swinging the sledgehammer to chip away at the hate speech used to demean them.
Austin Groverman, 13, of Lake Grove, came to Friday night’s event with her father to celebrate acceptance in the LGBTQ community and push back against bullying.
“People may say things about me behind my back, but it’s still hurtful,” she said. “We’re part of a group that doesn’t hurt anyone and it’s hurtful when you haven’t done anything wrong.”
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
