It has been 30 years since the Day of Silence began as a way to raise awareness of the harassment of LGBTQ+ students in schools. But because of the onslaught of anti-trans legislation across the country, it sometimes feels more like 1996 than 2026, according to Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, CEO of Glisten.
That onslaught continues. U.S. House Republicans are pushing a bill to force states to stop acknowledging trans kids at schools. Mississippi has passed a restrictive driver's license law targeting trans people. And a conservative legal group is asking the federal government to investigate Maryland’s largest school district over policies protecting transgender students.
Want to help support queer kids? Glisten has a guide for students and for adults on how to participate in today's Day of Silence.
Until next time,
The Advocate team
Day of Silence marks 30 years as anti-LGBTQ+ school battles intensify nationwide
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