Since 1996, students across the nation and across the globe have made an impact on their schools, their communities, and the lives of people they know by participating in
The Day of Silence.
On this year, 2008, the Day of Silence will fall on

April 25th.

What is the Day of Silence?According to Wikipedia: "The Day of Silence is an annual day of action to protest the bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, and their supporters. Students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBT students and their supporters.
The national focus of the Day of Silence is specific to ending bullying and harassment of students, particularly physical violence and verbal threats."
Do I have to be a lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender student to participate?Absolutely not! The Day of Silence is for
everyone. In fact, the Day of Silence is organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which encourages unity of all individuals, despite their backgrounds. Limiting a protest to only a specific group of participants goes against the entire focus of what the protest is fighting against in the first place.
Do I have to be silent for an ENTIRE day?It may be ideal, but you definitely do not have to. Many people may choose a specific period of the day, like only while at school/work, during lunch break, or while at a public event.
Afterwards, people may also have a "Breaking the Silence" event, whether it be a small celebration amongst those who participated or a large pep rally.
How does being silent do anything to help LGBT students?Silence can prove a much stronger point than yelling out a thousand words, especially to someone who refuses to listen. The fact that you are willing to cease something that is seen as primary for everyday living - speaking - shows how strongly you feel about the purpose of this event.
Where can I find out more information?Please take a look at
this journal entry for more detailed answers to all the aforementioned questions and more.
As the founder of ~
BEtolerant, the club devoted to spreading understanding and tolerance of others, I strongly encourage everyone to participate in this powerful event. You
can make a difference.
Devious Comments
Anyways, very big thanks for all of your support! The Day of Silence is definitely an event worth participating in - I love the unconventional nature of it and the awareness it raises. It reminds me a bit of the peaceful protest tactics that were used during the Civil Rights era.
--
PREJUDICE comes from IGNORANCE
Previous PageNext Page