Hello everyone! It’s 11:33 P.M., and since 10 A.M. this morning, I’ve spent about one and one-half hours of class and the other eight hours or so planning for the Day of Silence at my university, Southern CT State University. I’ve been working very closely with both the presidents of PRISM and Amnesty International for hours on end trying to make this event a success; discussing with them who got back to us about attending our events and who didn’t; sending dozens of e-mails to clubs, organizations, our school newspaper, and allies on and off-campus about the event; copying, posting, and distributing flyers; tabling for PRISM and the Day of Silence at Take Back the Night, a moving and truly illuminating event against domestic violence and sexual abuse; and running around campus like a jackrabbit asking questions to and getting approval from Student Life on our requests and events. Oh, and did I tell you that I was doing a lot of this while I was working at the circulation desk at my school library? One minute, I was busy e-mailing a prospective speaker at the vigil and pleading for his or her participation and then I was asked, “Can I please check out this book?” or “Do I
have to pay the fine on this overdue book?” My mind was practically, and has been for the last week or so,
spinning; I swear I said “hi” to one of library patrons after I checked out his books when I should have said “bye” instead.
As you can see, I’ve been
really stressed out planning this rather ambitious and visionary event at my university. I have witnessed very few events at Southern that have tried unifying and mobilizing the campus community against nation- and world-wide oppression with such an immediate intensity and energy in the four years I’ve been here. I tend to be an idealist, but have fortunately tried being realistic about my own capacity and that of the two other main logistical players I’m working with to make everything manageable and cohesive.
Fortunately, we’ve steadily been gaining the support of the student body. While there are some organizations that are “still trying to make a decision” (personally, I don’t know what there is to “decide” about, since how can you argue against the safety and respect of all students?”), other clubs, such as the NAACP, Black Student Union, Women’s Studies, Habitat for Humanity, Environmental Futurists, Campus Ministry, Media Studies Club (which I happen to be a part of too), Anime Club, and many other groups on campus are quickly jumping on board and can’t wait to take action against prejudice and discrimination next Thursday, April 24th. Some of them have done the Day of Silence, and some haven’t, but they’re all supportive and energetic. For example, the NAACP and Black Student Union are planning to hold some of their “Abolish the N-word” posters at the silent demonstration on the bridge next Thursday as we (PRISM) hold some of our posters promoting an awareness of the harassment and victimization of LGBT people and their allies. Because I don’t think PRISM has ever worked with the NAACP on campus before, I already see this as a great opportunity to join clubs on campus and unite for a common cause: anti-oppression.
Some of our prospective participants have had the misconception that the Day of Silence is just about promoting an awareness of prejudice and discrimination against the LGBT community, but I’ve explained to them that the Day of Silence is not only about protecting LGBT people, but also their allies and people who are bullied, harassed, and even killed every day because of their race/ethnicity, perceived nationality or origin, disability, religion, appearance, socioeconomic status- the list goes on and on. Moreover, I’ve tried explaining to them that oppression is not just against people; it can be against nature or the environment and even by those larger forces that we don’t notice very often, like the mass media that can restrict our freedom to send and share information without fear of reproach or censorship.
And so much of this unjust and abusive use of power and status starts with language, not behavior. Very few realize that hate-motivated and prejudicial language often leads to violence, and many of these schools choose to do nothing about it and let “kids be kids” rather than support the few or numerous students who get picked on every day. These students don’t, and often feel that they can’t, speak up because they fear being punished or humiliated by their peers. Clearly, our reputations and societal image matter so much more than the dignity, respect, and safety of our children. Well, I’m out to tell them that our youth and their allies planning, organizing, and sponsoring the Day of Silence in their schools and communities will not fight with the language or the violence that has been laid on their bruised and battered backs. Our bullied and harassed children may have a heavy load to bear, but they will not hold onto it any longer; rather, they will carry it to shore and make sure it gets carried safely and peacefully into the light.
When it all comes down to it, no matter what your beliefs are on homosexuality, the LGBT community, or on diversity in general, no one deserves to die because they are different from the norm or make otherwise “normal” people uncomfortable with their unconventional modes of acting, speaking, and being. Lawrence King didn’t deserve it; Matthew Shepherd didn’t; and Gwen Araujo didn’t either. And these are just three of those hate-motivated murders that received national attention. Just think about other hate crimes that don’t get recognized and stay hidden. Just think about the young people who are silenced every day because of shame and the pressure to conform. And all of it started with “just words.”
Sticks and stones can’t break my bones. But words can kill me. And the thousands of schools celebrating the Day of Silence are making sure this doesn’t happen. Why do I say the Day of Silence is a “celebration?” Because while this is truly a time for mourning and remembering the lives lost because of bigotry and hate, this is also a time for celebrating the courage and audacity of so many people who, like me, were once afraid of people who were different and would rather dwell in a desert of ignorance and apathy than awareness and empathy. For, if anything, I want the Day of Silence at Southern and all around the nation to inspire empathy. I have no doubt this will happen.
And that makes all the “stress” I mentioned seven paragraphs ago worth it.
