Many students and thousands more observed GLSEN’s (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) 18th annual Day of Silence May 3 to recognize the silencing effect of anti-LGBTQ bullying and harassment across the nation.
Promoting the Day with Facebook, signs, slips, and posters around campus, Piedmont’s QSA encouraged as many people as possible who are supportive of benevolent gay-straight relations to participate.
Although students chose to silence themselves for many different personal reasons, most students recognized the core purpose of the Day itself.
“I’ve participated in it every year since middle school,” junior Charlotte Reed said, “I know it doesn’t make a huge difference but it at least shows that people care, so I think its worth doing.”
In addition to withdrawing themselves from speech, students may have also omitted vocal participation in classes.
By sending out emails to teachers notifying them of the day, QSA’s co-president senior Emily Bang said that teachers can prepare for student’s withdrawal from vocal participation.
Various teachers participated in the Day of Silence as well, and encouraged their respective students to do so also. English teacher Rosie Reid said there are also underlying values of importance in participating in the Day of Silence.
“The Day of Silence helps teach two very important cornerstones of good citizenship,” Reid said, “That it is our duty to non-violently protest what we feel is wrong with our society, and that we as humans have a fundamental obligation to look out for each other.”
Reid, who uses an overhead projector to type messages and instructions to her classes, said that class is not compromised at all and her students are extremely respectful, which gives the day a special feeling.
Most importantly, students who participate in the silence show that LGBTQ youth have allies around the nation, from communities big to small. The more silence, the more of an impact it will have.
“My heart would be warmed if I walked into the classroom and half the kids were silent,” Bang said.
According to a Harris Interactive study on bullying from GLSEN, it was reported that about 9 in 10 LGBTQ teens have experienced some sort of harassment in their lifetime.
GLSEN says that one goal of the Day of Silence is to promote school activity to combat bullying of LGBTQ students.
“It is important for LGBTQ youth to be able to look around on this day and see that they have allies and supporters everywhere,” Reid said.
