Almost one-third of students absent as supporters, opponents of Day of Silence air their views at Mt. Si High School

About 100 people joined the Rev. Ken Hutcherson outside Mt. Si High School this morning to protest the Day of Silence being observed inside the school. The group prayed and sang as a noisy group of counter protesters tried to drown them out by beating on drums and chanting, "Go Home."

Hutcherson, who had called for 1,000 "prayer warriors" to join him in protesting a national day to call attention to the harassment of lesbian and gay students, said his group was not against homosexuals or the Day of Silence.

"We're against giving an entire school day to one club to push an agenda that is not about education," he said.

About 80 parents and supporters of the high school's Gay Straight Alliance stood quietly outside the school as students arrived. Some wore rainbow tie-dyed scarves and one former student waved a rainbow flag.

"We want to let students in the GSA know they have support in the community," said Lucinda Hauser, a parent of a Mount Si student.

Jane Storrs, another parent and a former school nurse, said she supports the Day of Silence "as a forum to discuss the bullying that goes on in high school."

The group, whose members said they did not want to confront Hutcherson or his supporters, left around 8 a.m.

Almost one-third of students didn't attend classes. Principal Randy Taylor said 495 out of a student body of 1,410 weren't at school, including 85 athletes whose parents asked that they be excused because of their personal beliefs.

At about 9:30 a.m., a bus from Hutcherson's Antioch Bible Church in Redmond arrived in front of the school. Hutcherson and his followers were immediately surrounded by vocal counter-protesters, including some former students.

Snoqualmie police separated the two groups of protesters with yellow police tape.

The pastor led his group in prayer and song. One Antioch member, Marvin Jones, said the GSA "doesn't have the right to come into schools and impose an agenda on students."

Hutcherson took issue with gay student supporters who said they were discriminated against at school. He said homosexuality is a sin "trying to be a minority."

He said the Snoqualmie Valley School District had not listened to complaints that the Day of Silence interrupted learning at the school.

Hutcherson supporters carried signs that said, "Teach Don't Preach" and "Silence for Unnatural Behavior? Not ME."

Lynette Smallwood, the parent of two Mt. Si students, joined Hutcherson's rally. She said she had received several text messages from her sons inside the school saying they couldn't say anything except the Day of Silence is good.

"It's not appropriate to have during school. They're not getting an education," Smallwood said.

Across the police line, protesters tried to drown out Hutcherson and other ministers that offered prayers.

Ken Lauren, a Redmond parent whose son-in-law teaches at Mt. Si, shouted, "Are these the values you want your kids to grow up with — bigotry, intolerance, hatred." He carried a sign that said, "I believe in separation of church and hate."

Inside the school, students and administrators said there were many T-shirts expressing opposing views and some intense discussions.

Taylor said he thought students took away a valuable lesson in democracy.

"They learned they can express themselves and respect others' point-of-view."

Lauren Burdulis, 16, said she felt the atmosphere was "very hostile" with students clashing over lifestyles and levels of acceptance.

Landon Wilson wore an Uncle Sam costume and joined members of the Mount Si Student Conservative Club in handing out red, white and blue ribbons. He said so many students were absent because they "just didn't want to deal" with the controversy.

"Not a lot of education took place," he said.

Arianne Pulsipher said the conservative students supported the GSA's goal of making the school a place where everyone felt comfortable. But she said that while the goal of the day is tolerance, her group was criticized for suggesting it be held before or after school.

"It felt like we were the ones being silenced," she said.

Jaqueline Ferland, president of the GSA, said there was definitely a range of opinions, and T-shirts with everything from Bible quotes to her own, which said on the back, "Listen."

"We've started," she said. "There's diversity at this school and there's now a recognition of that."

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com