Silence is Power on this Day
National Day Of Silence is a yearly student-led demonstration involving members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. This year the day falls on April 9. It is a day in which students participate by being silent throughout the day to show their support and recognition for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people, but can also be used as a day to recognize anyone that is silenced. Anyone can organize an activity or event, and it can be a powerful way to join together and take a stand and make your voice heard. Many communities are silenced each day, by : anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying , harassment , discriminatory state laws and among many other forms of silencing. Silence is a symbol for oppression, inaction or avoidance. “Silencing” is synonymous with shutting down or leaving behind, but not today, our silence will speak POWER.
History of the day
The National Day of Silence was first celebrated in April 1996. National Day of Silence was created by a student named Maria Pulzetti who wanted to make an impact on many people at schools and other places. Students organized the first event at the University of Virginia in 1996. In 1997, organizers took efforts to take the event to the national level, with almost 100 colleges and universities participating in them. In 2000, Pulzetti’s classmates and GLSEN National Student Organizer developed the proposal for the day to become an official project of GLSEN. And in 2001, the GLSEN became the official organizational sponsor with new funding, staff, and volunteers. GLSEN developed its first-ever student leadership team as part of the National Day of Silence. In the last several years, over 10,000 participants have registered their participation with GLSEN each year who are from middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. They include students from the U.S.A. as well as students from all around the world.
How can you celebrate the day
- You can wear a unique shirt for the day in solidarity of a group or people that’s being silenced.
- Be silent for the day.
- Highlight communities that’s being silenced.
- Contact your schools GSA ( Gay-Straight Alliance) to see how you can be apart of planned events ( virtually or distanced) .\
- Sharing speaking cards that raise awareness of anti-LGBT bullying
National Day Of Silence