Day of Silence Past and Present

Every year, in April, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network) sponsors The Day of Silence.

“…Day of Silence is a student-led national event…bringing awareness to the silencing effects of anti-LGBTQ name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students…take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBTQ behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBTQ students and those perceived to be LGBTQ.”

I first participated in Day of Silence in 2008 when I was in 9th grade. Some participants take a full vow of silence, choosing not to communicate at all, except through shaking/nodding their heads. Others carry note cards with pre-written responses as their only form of communication. That first year, I chose to write in my notebook rather than speak. Below is the transcript of everything I “said” that day.

Day of Silence, April 25, 2008

• You pronounce the “H,” Mrs. Moyer says it wrong
• I’ll write it and show them
• A bunch of the girl in Gifted
• We’re continuing research
• No
• I pledge allegience (sic) to the flag…
• I’ll type
• Thanks
• She does
  • When? (Mr. Depasqua)
• Soccer
  • Gotcha (MD)
• JCP
• Okay, any ideas?
• Should we have something about the husband telling the wife that she may be able to vote, but he’s not going to let her drive?
• I’ll take this home and work on it.
• I eat whenever
• Library Here
• Thanks
• Ours
• If you think about “the Game” you loose (sic).
• SAMMY
• Yes?
• I find no humor in this
• What is it you wanted?
• Got it
• Never mind
• Just never mind
• Homework?
• Gracias
• Good idea
• I’ve stayed in the Randolph Hotel before
• Oxford
• It already does
• OH YAH!
• HMM
• We just take the shampoo
• But did you see the Simpsons episode where Homer stole everything from several hotel rooms?
• Good
• I just don’t do posting
• Just
• There’s a lot of good ones
• He might
• I just think it’s pretty, but it means that art is usually a peaceful process and there should be more art, less war
• Kills small business
• probably
• everything including the kitchen kink
• What’s the point?
• remotes
• LED flashlights are really expensive, too.
• Some really expensive hotels can be pretty crappy
• sure
• Something Literary
• Scribbles
• Beheading
• Black Queen
• Ooh she’s pretty
• Time Flys
• Time’s Square New Years Eve
• That’s redundant
• That’s a little like eves dropping
• We’re not keeping score
• Squirrel
• moth
• first lady
• Betsy Ross
• Britain
• Asia
• Mother Russia

I’ve always been incredibly passionate about this event. Throughout Middle School, I was bullied. Classmates would make fun of my clothes, mock me for wanting to answer questions, ostracize me for my lack of religious belief, called a lesbian for holding my best friend’s hand.

I’m lucky. I’ve got a pretty thick skin, and I’ve always defined myself rather than let others define me. I have supportive parents. My mother was a professional counselor, and I knew I could talk to her. She gave me strategies for dealing with the day-to-day life of an odd-ball middle-schooler.

Not everyone is lucky.

So even if you’re not able to participate in Day of Silence, keep an eye out for bullying behavior. Call it out. Be a support. Be an ally.

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