Each April for the last 11 years, students and teachers nationwide have observed the Day of Silence (www.dayofsilence.org) to make a statement about the widespread bullying, harassment, ignorance and oppression that LGBT students, teachers and their friends grapple with in junior high and high school each day.
Participants refuse to speak all day, instead passing out cards reading:
"Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?"
This year, tens of thousands of students are expected to participate. The tragedy at Virginia Tech this week may have muted enthusiasm for campus activism this year for some. Other students will undoubtedly be motivated to point out the need for clear communication about emotional issues, especially in the light of incidents such as the vandalism of a high school campus with homophobic, anti-Semitic and racist graffiti over the weekend.
