Day of Silence to help raise awareness of LGBT issues
By Shelby Schwartz
The Advocate
Friday is a “Day of Silence,” an event promoted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
Participants take a daylong vow of silence and distribute or wear speaking cards with information about anti-LGBT bias and ways for students and others to “end the silence.”
According to Chris Gorsek, MHCC social science instructor, the social sciences administrative assistant Leslie Yates was forwarded an email about it and then she forwarded it to the social sciences department and he forwarded it from there. He thought that it would be of campus wide interest as it is an important issue and he wanted to pass it on.
Through Breaking the Silence events, which are typically held at the end of the school day, students can speak out against harassment and demand change for their schools and communities.
According to several ASG officers, they have not planned an event nor have they planned events for the “Day of Silence” in the past.
Jordan Bennett, Queer Straight Alliance president, said, “(QSA is) too busy lately. We’re doing an event in a few weeks and then we have mock weddings. We have a full schedule this term.” He said, “If we participate, it will just be individual members.”
According dayofsilence.org, the Day of Silence was “founded in 1996 by students at the University of Virginia, and currently officially sponsored in K-12 schools by GLESN, the Day of Silence is the largest student-led action to protest the bullying and harassment of LGBT people and their allies.
