Students quietly protest on Day of Silence
Posted by wac14
April 17, 2010Friday it was quiet at many colleges and high schools across the country, as students marked the national Day of Silence, a 14-year-old tradition that brings attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender harassment in school.
Both LGBT and straight students take part in the Day, organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. When asked about the silence, the students hand over a card explaining the meaning of the Day.
Daryl Presgraves, GLSEN’s media relations manager, said 7,413 middle and high school registered to participate in the Day of Silence. GLSEN does not track college and university participation.
It’s not just gay youth who feel the bullying and harassment at school. Last April, 11-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover hanged himself after being berated by his peers, just a couple weeks shy of his 12th birthday. He identified as straight.
“As was the case with Carl, you do not have to identify as gay to be attacked with anti-LGBT language,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said in a press release. “From their earliest years on the school playground, students learn to use anti-LGBT language as the ultimate weapon to degrade their peers.”
In response to the Day of Silence, conservative family groups advocated alternatives. The American Family Association told parents to pull their students from school and stage a “walk-out.” Exodus International, promoter of ex-gay conversion therapy, held a Day of Truth on Thursday.
“Since the Day of Silence is about addressing anti-LGBT bullying and harassment, it’s hard to understand how any organization could be against making school safer for all students,” said Presgraves. “Their effort is to raise awareness to conversion therapy. It’s harmful for young people. It’s ineffective. And it doesn’t work.”
Exodus International’s Day of Truth campaign uses the motto “get the conversation started” and promotes “students having an honest conversation about biblical sexuality.”
“We are more than happy to have a conversation with anyone who is willing to come up with solutions to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment,” Presgraves said.
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There was also a great number of bloggers (including myself) who didn't blog on Friday but instead posted a message about The Nation Day of Silence and helpful resources.