National Day of Silence is a student-led movement to protest bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and those who support them. The Day of Silence brings illustrates to the schools and the colleges how the intimidation, name calling and general bullying has a silencing effect. Participating students take a day-long vow of silence.
Show your support for National Day of Silence by using #NationalDayofSilence on Social Media to bring awareness to this special day.
HISTORY
As part of a class assignment on non-violent protests, University of Virginia students organized the first Day of Silence in 1996. Since then, National Day of Silence has been observed each year in April. Students are encouraged to gain permission from their school before organizing an event for National Day of Silence.
Many youth who are identified (by themselves or by others) as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) are routinely subjected to name-calling, bullying, and other forms of harassment. And even LGBTQ allies may be victimized. Underlying these behaviors can be discrimination and hate—which sometimes leads to violence. According to the 2013 National School Climate Survey —a study conducted by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) that surveyed 7,898 middle and high school students—85.4% responded they were verbally harassed and 39.9% reported they were physically harassed. Nearly six in ten of LGBT students reported that they felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and four in ten (38.7%) said they felt unsafe because of their gender expression. Half of students reported experiencing some form of electronic harassment (“cyberbullying”) in the past year. The 2013 NSCS will provide useful information to advocates, educators, and policymakers that will enhance their efforts to create safe and affirming schools for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
The Day of Silence is a student effort to protest harassment, discrimination, and hate. Participating students, led by GLSEN, will hand out cards that read the following:
“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?”
For information on the Day of Silence, visit http://www.dayofsilence.org
In support of the goals of the National Day of Silence, the NCTSN has compiled a list of resources for educators, mental health and child welfare professionals, parents and caregivers, and youth.
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