Day of Silence: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|International day to spread awareness of LGBT people}}

The '''Day of Silence''' is an annual student-organized day of action to protest the bullying and harassment of sexual minorities. Students take a day-long [[vow of silence]] to symbolically represent the silencing of [[LGBT]] students and their rights.

{{Other uses|Silence Day (disambiguation){{!}}Silence Day}}

{{use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{Infobox holiday

|holiday_name = Day of Silence

|type = national

|longtype = National, International

|image = DayOfSilenceBanner.png

|caption = [[GLSEN]] logo

|official_name =

|nickname =

|observedby = [[LGBTQ+]] communities

|duration = 1 day

|frequency = Annual

|date = Second Friday of April

|mdy = true

|observances = [[Vow of silence]]

|relatedto = [[Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights|1987 March on Washington]]

}}

'''Day of Silence''' is an [[list of minor secular observances#April|annual day]] of action organized by [[GLSEN]] (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) to spread [[awareness]] about the effects of the [[LGBT bullying|bullying and harassment]] of [[lesbian]], [[gay]], [[bisexual]], [[transgender]], [[queer]], and [[Questioning (sexuality and gender)|questioning]] ([[LGBTQ]]) students. In the United States, students take a day-long [[vow of silence]] to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBTQ students.

The Day of Silence has been held each year in April since 1996. Since 2011, the event has been held on the second Friday of April, except in 2018, when it was observed on Friday, April 27,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glsen.org/blog/these-students-are-breaking-silence-create-lgbtq-affirming-schools|title=These Students are Breaking the Silence to Create LGBTQ-Affirming Schools|website=GLSEN|date=April 26, 2018 |access-date=2021-02-26|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226145520/https://www.glsen.org/blog/these-students-are-breaking-silence-create-lgbtq-affirming-schools|archive-date=2021-02-26}} (accessed February 26, 2021)</ref> 2020, when it was observed on Friday, April 24,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glsen.org/blog/every-link-you-may-possibly-need-glsens-day-silence|title=Every link you may possibly need for GLSEN's Day of Silence|website=GLSEN|date=April 23, 2020 }}</ref> 2021, when it was observed on Friday, April 23,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence |title=Day of Silence |website=GLSEN |access-date=2021-02-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226145327/https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence |archive-date=2021-02-26 }} (accessed February 26, 2021)</ref> and 2022, when it was observed on Friday, April 22.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.glsen.org/day-of-silence |title=Day of Silence |website=GLSEN |access-date=2022-04-19 }} (accessed April 19, 2022)</ref>

The 2006 Day of Silence was held on [[April 26]]th.

== Organization ==

{{Update|part=section|date=April 2024|reason=Statistical information is only about Day of Silence 2008}}

The '''Day of Silence''' is organized as a [[grassroots]] project by the [[Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network]] (GLSEN) in collaboration with the [[United States Student Association]] (USSA).

The Day of Silence is organized by GLSEN. Students are encouraged to obtain permission from their school before organizing the event.

GLSEN states that hundreds of thousands of students at more than 8,000 schools participated in the 2008 Day of Silence.<ref name=glsenfaq>{{cite web|url=http://www.glsen.org/dayofsilence|title=Day of Silence}}</ref>

Students are encouraged to obtain permission from their school before organizing the event.

== History ==

Created by then-students Maria Pulzetti and Jessie Gilliam, the first event was organized by students at [[University of Virginia]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/washington/news.aspx?id=87161 |title=Day of Silence takes on a political tone |last=Riley |first=John |publisher=Medill Reports |date=2008-04-24 |access-date=November 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930161741/http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/washington/news.aspx?id=87161 |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Pulzetti explained: "I wanted to do something for BGLAD week that would impact many people at the school and that would be very visible...I knew that if we held panel discussions and events like that, the only people who would come would be the people who already were fairly aware."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/day-silence-fights-school-bullying |publisher=[[The Nation]] |last=Ashenfelter |first=Morgan |date=2010-04-14 |title=Day of Silence Fights School Bullying}}</ref>

In 1997, the Day of Silence went national, with almost 100 colleges and universities participating.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dayofsilence.org/faqs/|title=FAQs|website=www.dayofsilence.org|access-date=2016-04-01|archive-date=March 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329112528/http://dayofsilence.org/FAQs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The GLSEN organizers are projecting that in 2006, approximately 500,000 students at 4,000 different schools will participate.

In 2002, Pulzetti's classmates Jessie Gilliam and Chloe Palenchar, and GLSEN National Student Organizer Chris Tuttle, developed the proposal for the day to become an official project of GLSEN. GLSEN developed its first-ever "student leadership team" as part of the Day of Silence.

== Events ==

In 2008, the Day of Silence was held in memory of [[Murder of Larry King|Lawrence "Larry" King]], an eighth grader from E.O. Green Middle School who was shot by classmate Brandon McInerney.<ref name=news>{{cite web|url=http://www.dayofsilence.org/content/news.html|title=12th Annual National Day of Silence Honors the Memory of Slain Lawrence King|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121121152/http://www.dayofsilence.org./content/news.html|archive-date=2008-11-21}}</ref>

The event takes place at both college and high school level campuses. On the appointed day, students maintain verbal silence either for the entire day or a portion of the day, such as during the lunch break or during the active school hours.

In the last several years, over 10,000 participants have registered their participation with GLSEN each year. These participants attend middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities. They include students from all 50 states in the U.S.A. as well as students from around the world, including New Zealand, Singapore, and Russia.<ref name="auto"/>

During their period of silence, participating students hand out printed cards explaining the nature of their protest.

In 2024, GLSEN’s Day of Silence was rebranded as the Day of (No) Silence, a day focused on taking action against laws that impact the rights and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duster |first=Chandelis |date=2024-04-12 |title=After decades of silent protest, students speak out for LGBTQ rights on the annual 'Day of (NO) Silence' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/us/2024-day-of-no-silence-protest-reaj/index.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

[[As of 2005]] the "speaking cards" read:

:"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. 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?"

==Opposition==

Both may be supplemented by additional text and images. Some school organizers also create pins to put on lockers and t-shirts. Also, special announcements during the day allow the event to be recognized by the school.

In 2005, the [[Alliance Defense Fund]] began sponsoring a yearly counter-protest called the [[Day of Dialogue|Day of Truth]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Day of Silence|publisher= Snopes.com| date= 2008-03-20|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/silence.asp|access-date= 2008-04-29}}</ref> "Events like these actually end up promoting homosexuality in public schools, and that actually creates a hostile climate for students of faith," said Candi Cushman, an education analyst for [[Focus on the Family]]. A card carried by participants in the Day of Truth reads: "true tolerance means that people with differing&mdash;even opposing&mdash;viewpoints can freely exchange ideas and respectfully listen to each other. It's time for an honest conversation about homosexuality. There's freedom to change if you want to. Let's talk."<ref name="DayOfTruth">{{cite news |last=Swanson |first=Perry |date=2008-04-24 |title=Christians Plan a 'Day of Truth' |publisher=The Gazette |url=http://www.gazette.com/articles/plan_35647___article.html/truth_christians.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2008-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080427004720/http://www.gazette.com/articles/plan_35647___article.html/truth_christians.html |archive-date=April 27, 2008}}</ref>

Ideally, the period of silence ends with a "breaking the silence" event in which participating students gather together, and participate in [[activism]] and [[education]].

Other [[social conservatism in the United States|socially conservative]] organizations, including the [[American Family Association]], [[Concerned Women for America]], [[Mission America (Columbus, Ohio)|Mission America]], [[Traditional Values Coalition]], Americans for Truth, and [[Liberty Counsel]], opposed the Day of Silence in 2008 by forming a coalition urging parents to keep their kids home on the DOS if students at their school were observing it.<ref>{{cite news|last= Birkey|first= Andy|title= 2008 Day of Silence Honors Slain Gay Student|publisher= Minnesota Independent|date= 2008-04-24|url= http://minnesotaindependent.com/3729/2008-day-of-silence-honors-slain-gay-student|access-date= 2008-04-25}}</ref> The Rev. [[Ken Hutcherson]], the principal supporter of those who skipped school, said, "We want education, not indoctrination."<ref>{{cite news|last= Thompson|first= Lynn|title= Mount Si's Gay-Rights Day of Silence is Far From Quiet|publisher= The Seattle Times| date= 2008-04-26|url= http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/eastsidenews/2004374870_dayofsilence26e.html|access-date= 2008-04-26}}</ref>

== Message ==

In April 2010, in opposition to the Day of Silence, several students in Laingsburg High School in [[Laingsburg, Michigan]] wore T-shirts stating "[[Straight Pride]]" on the front side and bore a reference to {{bibleverse||Leviticus|20:13|NASB}} on the back. That Bible verse refers to homosexual behaviour as an [[abomination (Bible)|abomination]] and prescribes death as the penalty for it. The same protest, which was organized on a [[Facebook]] group, also took place in the St. Johns and Bath school districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michiganmessenger.com/37172/rural-high-school-students-create-straight-pride-stir |title=Rural high school students create 'straight pride' stir |author=Todd A. Heywood |publisher=Michigan Messenger |date=2010-04-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315111013/http://michiganmessenger.com/37172/rural-high-school-students-create-straight-pride-stir |archive-date=2012-03-15 }}</ref>

The national focus of the Day of Silence is specific to ending bullying and harassment of students, particularly physical violence and verbal threats.

On October 6, 2010, [[CNN]] reported that [[Exodus International]], which promotes "freedom from homosexuality through Jesus Christ,” would not support the 2011 annual Day of Truth as the organization had done in 2010. President Alan Chambers stated, "All the recent attention to bullying helped us realize that we need to equip kids to live out biblical tolerance and grace while treating their neighbors as they'd like to be treated, whether they agree with them or not."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/06/christian-group-pulls-support-for-event-challenging-homosexuality/?hpt=T2|title=Christian Group Pull Support for Event Challenging Homosexuality|work=CNN|access-date=July 5, 2011|archive-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123011818/http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/06/christian-group-pulls-support-for-event-challenging-homosexuality/?hpt=T2|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As with most political actions, there is passionate ongoing debate as to the specific strategies and goals. Organizers encourage Day of Silence participants to use the national template, but do support variation among participating groups. While some organizers focus the mission statement of their Day of Silence to ending [[institutionalized discrimination]], others decide to make their message more encompassing. The [[Gay-Straight Alliance]] of [[Winston Churchill High School]] in [[Livonia, Michigan]], for example, have made their mission statements for the Day of Silence "To send the message that hate is not tolerated" which they consider a more personal and less politically focused sentiment. Other groups focus on the day as an opportunity for the participating students to strengthen their own personal awareness of discrimination and increase their solidarity with the GLBT community.

In 2011, Focus on the Family acquired the “Day of Truth” event and renamed it into the “Day of Dialogue”. As of 2012, the Day of Dialogue website stated: "Now it boasts a new name, while maintaining the same goal it’s always had since its founding — encouraging honest and respectful conversation among students about [[Christian God|God]]’s design for sexuality."<ref>Focus on the Family, "Day of Dialogue History," {{cite web |url=http://www.dayofdialogue.com/2011/02/03/history-2/ |title=History &#124; Day of Dialogue History &#124; Join the Dialogue |access-date=2012-04-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601155210/http://www.dayofdialogue.com/2011/02/03/history-2/ |archive-date=2011-06-01 }} (accessed April 2, 2012)</ref>

== History ==

The first event was organized by students at the [[University of Virginia]] in 1996.

==See also==

In 1997 the event expanded to the '''National Day of Silence''', with over one-hundred schools participating, and beginning in 1998 was promoted by the '''Day of Silence Project''' with double the participation of the last year. Their website was hosted by [[Youth Guardian Services]] [http://www.youth-guard.org/].

{{Portal|LGBTQ}}

*[[Ally Week]]

*[[Athlete Ally]]

*[[National Coming Out Day]]

*[[Student voice]]

*[[Suicide among LGBT youth]]

*[[Transgender Day of Remembrance]]

*[[List of LGBT awareness days]]

==References==

The "speaking card" text was not universal in the early days of the movement. At some schools, students could choose to be silent for those oppressed by other things. These cards had a "I am being silent today in remembrance of those who have been silenced because of" followed by a blank where the student could write their own idea. This was used at several schools, such as [[Worcester Polytechnic Institute]], in place of the original card, though later days would see all participating schools being more in line with the national documents.

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

The 2005 Day of Silence is reported as "the largest one-day student-led grassroots action on [[LGBT rights]] in American history" [http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/1920.html].

{{commons category}}

*{{official website|http://dayofsilence.org/}}

*[http://www.facebook.com/NationalDayofSilence Facebook page]

{{LGBTQ}}

==Opposition==

The [[Christian]] political and legal foundation the [[Alliance Defense Fund]] has organized an annual counter-protest which they call the [[Day of Truth]] ([http://www.dayoftruth.org website]) which takes place on the day following the Day of Silence and whose stated purpose is "to counter the promotion of the homosexual agenda". On this day, small groups of Christian students are organized to express their opinion and distribute literature that expresses their opposition to homosexuality and [[gay rights]]. As part of the effort, students who are prevented or discouraged from expressing their anti-gay beliefs are encouraged to call for legal support from the ADF on [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|first amendment]] grounds. The protest is currently in its second year. The ADF reports that 1,100 students at approximately 350 schools participated in 2005.

Other Christian groups including students and adults often organize similar opposition at their local schools to take place on the same day as the original event.

==External links==

*[http://dayofsilence.org/ Day of Silence]: Official Website

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Annual Activist Events|Day ofOf Silence]]}}

[[Category:LGBT eventsAnti-homophobia]]

[[Category:April observances]]

[[Category:Civil awareness days]]

[[Category:Education in the United States]]

[[Category:LGBTQ and education]]

[[Category:LGBTQ events in the United States]]

[[Category:LGBTQ youth]]

[[Category:Silence]]

[[Category:Unofficial observances]]

[[Category:LGBTQ-related observances]]

[[Category:1996 introductions]]

[[Category:History of the University of Virginia]]

[[Category:Organized events in Charlottesville, Virginia]]