If your son or daughter isn't speaking to you today, for once you can chalk it up to something other than hormones. Across the country, students are taking a vow of silence today in solidarity with gay rights. While some parents have been urged by social conservatives to keep their kids at home or distribute pamphlets telling gay kids they can change, thanks to Facebook and other online sites, the Day of Silence has become a nationwide phenomenon. Want to know what could possibly get a teenager to shut-up for a whole day? Here's a few of the many reasons.

CONTINUED »

"Two teens, accused of beating a gay teenage hairdresser to death in what the police claim was a homophobic attack have been charged with his murder. 18-year-old Michael Causer was set upon by three youths on Friday 25th July and suffered serious head injuries. Despite surgery to try to reduce swelling on his brain, he died at 2:30pm on Saturday 2nd August. Gavin Alker, 19 and James O'Connor, 19 formerly of Huyton, Merseyside, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today." [Pink News]

Eighteen-year old gay Briton Michael Causer has died eight days after being brutally beaten by two men. [Towleroad]