Day of Silence sees wide participation

The 2010 National Day of Silence, hosted by the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), was held on Friday, April 16. The thousands of students who participate refuse to speak throughout the day in order to bring attention to the bullying and harassment that many LGBT students face.

"The Task Force salutes each and every student keeping silent today to advocate for schools that are free of bullying and harassment," Task Force executive director Rea Carey said. "We know that young people risk their safety every day in order to attend schools that provide cover to and ignore the bullies who can make their lives living hell while adults look the other way. Adults must act to stop the epidemic of school harassment that diminishes the safety of all, but particularly leaves young lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people isolated, afraid and desperate."

According to GLSEN, at least 7,400 middle and high schools across the nation participated in the Day of Silence. Dominique Walker, sister of the late Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, told GLSEN that she kept silent on April 16 in honor of her brother, who took his own life at the age of 11 after enduring relentless anti-gay bullying at school. "I'm participating in the Day of Silence because it's very important to realize the silence and pain many students bear," Walker said. "Bullying and harassment in school is a huge problem that needs to be stopped, and by keeping silent we can feel the agony of many students."

Students were equipped with "speaking cards" to hand to peers and teachers that read, "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence (DOS), a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today."

The Day of Silence originated at the University of Virginia in 1996. GLSEN joined the movement as a national sponsor in 2001.

"Adults must develop a mature conscience of empathy when students are the butts of jokes, sneers and contempt by other students and, sometimes, even parents of students," Carey said. "We need comprehensive federal and state legislation to put in place policies and practices that mandate school personnel to report and stop the bullying. Let's end the isolation and fear, let's stop the bullies, and let's make our schools welcoming to all. The lives of kids depend on us."

"The Day of Silence makes visible the efforts of amazing student leaders all over the country who are working to make their schools safer and more welcoming for all students," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. "The courage of these students has built this event into a powerful annual reminder of the urgent need for action to address anti-LGBT behavior and bias in our schools."

For more information, please click here.