What Are You Going to Do to End the Silence?

TGIF! It’s finally Friday morning. You’ve just sat down in first period English, and you can’t wait to talk all about your upcoming plans for the weekend. Grinning, you tap your best friend on the shoulder, eager to share the news. After five minutes of non-stop chatter, you stop and take a breath.

“So, what do you think?”

As you stare expectantly at your friend, you can’t help but notice that she has been oddly quiet the whole time. In fact, as you take a quick glance around the room, you realize that the entire class has been strangely silent this morning. With the exception of a few people, everyone else is either gesturing or passing notes. True, it is first period, but it has never been this quiet before. What is going on?!

You must have a confused look on your face, because your friend pulls out a small card. You quickly skim over it, catching bits and pieces of the message: “Not speaking today. Bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Building awareness.” Suddenly, it hits you.

This Friday, April 15th, is the National Day of Silence. On this day, students and teachers all over the nation will “take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools,” according to the Day of Silence Web site.

Sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), this event raises awareness about the harassment LGBT students often face by showing teenagers how it feels to be silenced by bullying. Visit DayofSilence.org for event information, posters, stickers and speaking cards to help spread the word at your school.

Take this day to make a statement and make a difference. Silence, after all, is golden.