On any other
day, there’s nothing empowering about silence.
On any other
day, silence is a symbol for oppression, inaction or avoidance. “Silencing” is
synonymous with shutting down or leaving behind. In the '80s, silence equaled
death. On every other day of the year, silence is forced upon LGBT people and
their allies in their schools, at their workplaces, in their communities, and
even through their state legislatures.
But not today.
Today is the
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s Day of Silence, an annual silent
protest of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. Each year, tens of thousands of
students participate by taking a daylong vow of silence at school and sharing
speaking cards that raise awareness of anti-LGBT bullying.
The Day of
Silence was first observed in 1996, when students at the University of Virginia
held a day of silence as part of a class project on nonviolent protest. GLSEN
became the official Day of Silence sponsor in 2000. And since then, hundreds of
thousands of students have participated in the Day of Silence to show their
solidarity with LGBT students and raise awareness of anti-LGBT bullying and
harassment.
The landscape
of LGBT rights has changed dramatically since the Day of Silence was
established, particularly in the last few years. We celebrated when the Supreme
Court approved marriage equality, and we cheer when LGBT people appear on
magazine covers, but we know that the LGBT rights movement is far from
finished. From discriminatory state laws to bullying at school, it’s clearer
than ever that LGBT students still face a host of inequalities and injustices.
According to
GLSEN’s latest National School Climate Survey, nearly nine out of 10 LGBT
students reported being verbally or physically harassed at school in the past
year. In North Carolina and Mississippi, the rights of transgender students to express
their true gender identities and safely use the school bathroom are being
compromised. In Tennessee, a high school Gay-Straight Alliance is facing undue hurdles from local policy makers simply
for existing.
The Day of
Silence is an answer to the anti-LGBT attitudes that propel these hateful
incidents because it gives the power back to LGBT youth themselves. When
GLSEN’s National Student Council, our team of 20 LGBT youth leaders, got
together to talk about this year’s Day of Silence, they came to one important
conclusion: GLSEN’s Day of Silence is a chance to reclaim silence as a tool of
empowerment. Together, they agreed on a resounding message to encapsulate their
participation in the Day of Silence this year: Silence is ours.
When LGBT
students take back silence as their own today, they’ll be making a statement
without saying a word — and this time, their silence won’t go unnoticed. Some
students will face pushback or even disciplinary action from their school
administration for using their First Amendment rights. Some will be harassed by
their peers, who will goad them into speaking or taunt them for supporting LGBT
students. Some will even be targeted by vicious hate groups, who conflate a
silent anti-bullying protest with disturbing the peace.
In fact, it’s
the very people who bully LGBT youth into silence year-round who will come out
in droves to protest these students’ autonomy today. But thousands more
supporters will come forward to ask questions, learn about the issue, and
commend these students for their bravery. That’s what the Day of Silence is all
about.
The Day of
Silence was important when it was created 20 years ago, and it’s just as
important today. Even in the face of unprecedented national victories for LGBT people,
LGBT students still find themselves fighting for basic rights to a safe,
inclusive and affirming education in communities all over the country. Nobody
should be scared to go to school, but so many are. And that’s why today, LGBT
students are choosing silence: to make those inequalities known.
If you’re
participating in GLSEN’s Day of Silence, we invite you to add your name to
the list of people taking action in solidarity with LGBT students. And
if you’re an ally who’s not taking a vow of silence today, we encourage you to
visit DayOfSilence.org to
learn how you can support those who are.
On April 15,
silence is chosen. Silence is power. Silence is strength. And for the students
participating today, silence is theirs.
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