Day of Silence to be observed by Central Virginia GSA clubs

Apr 11, 2008

This year’s National Day of Silence on April 25 will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old California student who was shot and killed at school in February by a 14-year-old classmate because of King’s sexual orientation and gender expression. The senseless tragedy at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard, Calif., brings even more meaning to a day that has brought hope to millions of students.

Students across the country participate in the Day of Silence to bring attention to this problem, let students who experience such bullying know that they are not alone and ask schools to take action to address the problem. Students hand out speaking cards during the Day of Silence that read

Nationally, hundreds of thousands of students are expected to participate in the 2008 Day of Silence by taking some form of a vow of silence for the entire day or part of it. Together, concerned students will create a powerful call to action in order to prevent future tragedies. Last year, students from nearly 5,000 middle and high schools registered for the 2007 Day of Silence. GLSEN protects the privacy of students and does not publish a list of students who have registered or their schools. Many students who participate also belong to Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs, of which nearly 4,000 are registered with GLSEN. The first GSA was created by a straight student nearly 20 years ago, in the fall of 1988.

There are simple steps that all schools can take to make schools safer for all students and to end the endemic name-calling and harassment that LGBT students and their allies face every day. Action is needed now so that Lawrence King and the countless others who endure anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment will not be forgotten, and so that we can create an enduring legacy of safer schools for all in their names.

GLSEN’s 2005 National School Climate Survey found that four out of five LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and 29% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. In a Harris Interactive study on bullying, students said two of the top three reasons students are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression. Additionally, 4 out of 5 LGBT students experience harassment at school. The Day of Silence is one way students and their allies are making anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and name-calling unacceptable in America’s schools.

Anti-LGBT bullying and harassment affects all students. Slurs such as “faggot” and “dyke” are commonplace in school. The Day of Silence is an example of students, from middle school to college, working together proactively to bring attention to the anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment experienced by LGBT and straight students alike. GLSEN, the Day of Silence’s organizational sponsor, encourages participants to be counted by registering at www.dayofsilence.org.

About the Day of Silence The Day of Silence, a project of GLSEN, is a nationwide, student-led event during which hundreds of high schools and colleges take action to bring awareness to the bullying, name-calling, and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and ally (LGBTA) youth. For more information and a complete collection of organizing materials, please visit www.dayofsilence.org.

Counter Activity to the Day of Silence GLSEN Richmond is aware of various campaigns against the Day of Silence across the nation. If there is such activity in Virginia, we would like to monitor these efforts and keep everyone updated. We would like to hear from you about these activities and ask that you send to us any information you have, so that we can have a clear picture of the scope of our critics’ activities. We’ve just finished updating The Truth about the Day of Silence which can be used as talking points to address any questions that come your way.