Day of Silence Blog

Why I'm an Ally

2011-10-21T17:07:00.004-04:00

My name is Carly, I'm a student ambassador for GLSEN, and an 8th grader in Arizona.

Since my mom is an ally, I've been an ally for basically as long as I can remember. In fact, I don't think I could imagine that not being a part of my life. And for as long as I've been an ally, the question I've been asked the most has always been “Why?” “Why do you care so much about gay people if you're straight yourself?”

Well, there are several answers to that question. First of all, I believe a lack of acceptance and an attitude of intolerance is one of the biggest issues our society faces, and one that has been the root cause of some of the most tragic events in history. In this case, anti-LGBT bullying, homophobia, and heterosexism in schools have caused tragedies. It has caused the tragedy of talented, bright kids not achieving the success they could be in school or even dropping out because they are too afraid of being harassed to focus on academic success. It has caused hundreds of teens to suffer from anxiety or depression every year. In short, anti-LGBT bullying is a common and extremely serious problem. And I don't want to just sit by and watch it wreck a ton of amazing young people's lives. That's probably the biggest part of why I'm an ally—I think it's just the right thing to do.

Besides that, I strongly believe that anti-LGBT bullying does not only negatively impact the LGBT community, but also an environment in which no once can feel comfortable being who they are and expressing themselves, for fear of being judged, labeled, bullied, or harassed. These kind of hostile surroundings, where everyone is more worried about not becoming a victim then they are about doing well in school or life, is not conducive to a healthy learning environment or a healthy person. As an ally, it is my hope that one day, everyone will be able to go to school and just be themselves and focus on being the best they can be. I want to wake up in a world where people are free from gender stereotypes that stifle their ability to lead the life they want to.

Ultimately, I believe the quote that “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” is true, and I don't want to take the side of bullying. Allies are in a position to “be the change,” as GLSEN says. They have the opportunity to break down the walls between LGBT students and their straight peers that often lead to a feeling of isolation for the LGBT students. To be a voice for people who are in the closet and can't speak up for themselves, be a supporter for people who are coming out or need somebody to talk to, and fight along side all the wonderful LGBT youth who have worked to achieve safer and more inclusive schools.

Being an ally is something I would encourage everyone to do, because although you may face some challenges, I have had so many great experiences and met so many amazing people because of being an ally. And at the end of the day, I feel really proud to be a part of a movement that involves people of all different sexual orientations and gender identities, joined together for a great cause.

Ally Week Approaches! October 17-21

2011-09-30T10:13:00.003-04:00

Have you started planning for Ally Week yet?

Register: Click here to register your participation. If you're one of the first few thousand, you'll get some free materials to support your participation.
Gather Information: Find resources to help you start your planning on www.allyweek.org.
Find Support: Discuss your participation with the advisor of your GSA or student club, or another trusted faculty member. It’s a good idea to print out resources from www.allyweek.org to give to potential supportive faculty.
Get Permission: Your Ally Week is likely to be more successful if the school approves of your activities. Research and follow the proper protocol for approving an activity at your school. Ask your supportive staff member to help.
Build a Team: Find peers who want to contribute. Talk to members of your GSA and/or other allies. Tell them about Ally Week and ask if they would be interested in getting involved. Make sure to check out the resources about building coalitions at www.allyweek.org.
Schedule for next week: Make sure to schedule a Team meeting with your supportive faculty member and interested students for the upcoming week to keep making progress!

Be Counted: GSA Census 2011!

2011-09-27T16:11:00.004-04:00

Take the GSA Census 2011 and let your GSA’s participation and needs in the safe schools movement be heard!

How many GSAs exist in the country? What do GSAs do? What do GSAs need?

We want to know and we need YOUR help!

• The first 2,000 GSAs to take the GSA Census will receive a packet of free GLSEN organizing materials
• All GSA Census participants will be entered in a raffle to win a www.glsenstore.org gift certificate

All GSA students and advisors/sponsors are welcome to take the GSA Census. The GSA Census defines GSA as an umbrella term used to refer to all student clubs that bring LGBT youth and allies together to work on creating safe and inclusive school environments (e.g., Gay-Straight Alliance, Gay-Straight-Transgender Alliance, Queer-Straight Alliance, Rainbow Club).

Be Counted

Day of Silence Student Voices: Meghann G.

2011-04-28T10:50:00.000-04:00

Meghann G. participated in the National Day of Silence on Friday, April 15, and throughout the day was teased by her peers who made gay jokes at her. Meghann retreated to the counselors’ office and began to write. Below is an excerpt of what she wrote on that day, cross posted with permission from her blog, Dancing in God’s Wonderland.

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How do you tell someone how you feel without speaking and without writing an essay? How do you defend yourself without words?

The meaning of Day of Silence is so much more powerful when experiencing it, hearing about it doesn't compare. The feeling of isolation puts you in a daze, where you forget about the "importance" of every day conversations. The lack of talking even dries out your throat and when you do speak again your voice cracks on the choked out words.

Day of Silence isn't just a protest against bullying or something to bring attention to others, but it's to bring a more intense, tangible, awareness to the participants. I tell people it's not as hard as it sounds, just to get them to do it, but in all reality it is hard and stressful and saddening to an extent; however it is also enlightening and eye-opening and incredibly, absolutely powerful. Anyone who has participated the whole day would know. It's inspirational.

As human beings we all want to fit in one way or another. No one wants to be isolated or alone or abandoned—no one. So Lord, help me be strong as I venture back into this battle field, because this does not end on the Day of Silence. This is reality for so many people.

The Day of Silence is over. Now what?

2011-04-22T12:04:00.003-04:00

Last Friday, many of you participated in the National Day of Silence. Thanks to all of your amazing work we are able to say that this was the largest Day of Silence in history! Your silence brought awareness to the silencing effects of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools. Congrats!

But don't stop there. Day of Silence is just the beginning! Read below for some things you can do to keep the movement going. And make sure to read to the end where we announce the date for the Day of Silence in 2012.

Register and Be Counted!
It's not too late to register your participation in the Day of Silence! We want to get an accurate understanding or how many people took part. CLICK HERE to let us know that you took a stand against anti-LGBT bullying and harassment!

Tell us your story
We love to hear how you celebrated the Day of Silence. How many people participated? Were your teachers supportive? What did you do to Break the Silence? Let us know! Click here to fill out the feedback form on studentorganizing.org.

Silence in the Classroom
We are sorry to hear that several students faced negative consequences because of their participation in the Day of Silence at school. As a reminder, while students have the right to not speak between classes and before/after school, students DO NOT have the right to remain silent during instructional time. Although it is upsetting if you were punished because you remained silent during class, it is not against the law. Some teachers grant permission for students to uphold their vow of silence in class, but teachers are not required to do so. We always recommend discussing your participation with your teacher before the Day of Silence. Click here to see more about your legal rights during the Day of Silence.

If you still feel your rights were denied during the Day of Silence, please visit our Report It form to let us know. A representative from Lambda Legal may be in contact to assist.

Stay tuned!
We'll email you with announcements about upcoming Days of Action, and ways that you can keep your organizing going all year long! Join the Gay-Straight Alliances Facebook page for announcements all year long and be sure to read the emails from info@studentorganizing.org and posts from @DayofSilence on Twitter!

Drum roll, please!
And the date for the next Day of Silence will be...Friday, April 20, 2012! Mark your calendars now and start brainstorming for ideas for next year's event! You can RSVP now at the official Day of Silence 2012 Facebook Event. And don't forget Ally Week (Oct 17-21) to jump start your organizing for the school year!

Thank you again for your participation in the Day of Silence. Don't let your work stop now. Through your continued organizing, we hope you are leading conversations and building action to change the climate of your schools to be a place where all students - regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression - can learn in a safe and supportive environment.

Congratulations on your success!

Do You Want to Be a GLSEN Student Ambassador?

2011-04-21T14:15:00.001-04:00

Do you feel strongly about safe schools for all students?

Are you a high school student with your very own blog? Do you tweet or follow your favorite celebrities on Twitter? Is Facebook your “home away from home?” Are your friends regularly checking your YouTube channe l for the latest videos you’ve posted?

If so, you may be the perfect addition to the GLSEN Student Ambassadors Program!

Take look at some of the fun our ambassadors had at last years summit in New York City.

We are searching for ambitious students in grades 8-12 during the 2011-2012 school year who are interested in sharing their stories in all kinds of media – from print, radio and TV to Twitter, Facebook and more. Students chosen will take part in a four-day media and safe schools summit in Los Angeles, July 14-17, 2011.

During the summit Ambassadors will learn how to raise awareness about GLSEN and safe schools in traditional and social media. With the support of media partners, GLSEN will give extensive training on getting placement in traditional media and how to leverage their existing knowledge of social media to raise awareness directly to constituents.

Now you may be asking yourself, “That’s just wonderful, but what happens after that?”

We’re glad you asked.

Throughout the year GLSEN’s Communications Department will engage these students as youth spokespeople to increase public understanding of the experiences of LGBT youth and allies in school at local and national levels. These young leaders will serve as everyday voices to communicate to educators, policy makers, fellow students and concerned citizens about GLSEN’s work. Student Ambassadors are also invited to be GLSEN’s guest bloggers and appear at select GLSEN events throughout the year.

Past GLSEN Ambassadors have appeared on AC 360, CBS Evening News and Entertainment Weekly, and have been in People Magazine, Teen Vogue and ET online, among others.

Click here for the application and get one step closer to becoming an official GLSEN Student Ambassador!

Details we almost forgot to mention:
*Trip expenses will be covered by GLSEN.
*The 2011-2012 Media Summit is limited to 18 students.
*Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, May 1, 2011.
*Students chosen will be notified via email by June 1, 2011.

Break the Silence!

2011-04-16T00:23:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to all of you on a hugely successful Day of Silence! Hundreds of thousands of people across the country and around the world participated in the Day to bring awareness to anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.

By now you've likely Broken the Silence, and begun to speak about your participation in the Day, your experiences with anti-LGBT bullying and the importance of making all schools safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Keep the conversation going! The Day of Silence is the first step towards a deeper dialogue amongst members of your community about how to improve your school's climate for LGBT and all students.

While we know that this year's Day of Silence was the largest ever, we want to be able to show it! Please make sure you registered your participation by clicking on THIS LINK. By registering we can help show others the impact of this action.

We'd love to hear your stories about your participation--the ups , the downs, and everything in between. What did you do to end the silence? Tell us by emailing info@dayofsilence.org.

If you feel you were denied your right to participate in the Day of Silence or if you faced strong opposition from your school, please CLICK HERE to let us know. A representative from Lambda Legal may be in contact with you to assist.

Stay tuned to the Day of Silence Blog, the Day of Silence Facebook Page and the @DayofSilence on Twitter for ideas on how to take the next step to make your school a more respectful and supportive place for all students.

Thank you all for your hard work, and congratulations on taking a stand!

Meet Your Day of Silence Staff!

2011-04-15T15:58:00.016-04:00

Hey everyone! We're all staff members at GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and we're supporting the Day of Silence today! Meet the Day of Silence crew!

IAN

MARTHA

ANTHONY

BARBARA

KRIS

JUSTIN

TERNA

LEIGH

What does a Day of Silence sound like on radio?

2011-04-15T14:40:00.005-04:00

Find out at 6:00 PM EST on Friday, April 15 as SiriusXM Radio's OutQ will be airing an in-depth hour-long radio special on the National Day of Silence! The special will be hosted by Xorje Olivares from OutQ news and OutQ Executive Producer Amber Hall and will feature interviews from Maria Pulzetti and Jesse Gilliam, founders of Day of Silence, GLSEN staff members and youth advocates and celebrity guests.

Join in the conversation!
You can ask questions or share your Day of Silence stories via phone at 866-305-6887 or via Twitter to @OutQ and @DayofSilence. We'll be live tweeting during the broadcast, so be sure to follow @DayofSilence and @OutQ today!

Don't have SiriusXM? Click here for a FREE trial subscription so you can listen to the Day of Silence broadcast.

Student Experiences of Day of Silence Resistence

2011-04-15T11:55:00.007-04:00

We receive a lot of emails and comments at info@dayofsilence.org, but some of the most upsetting are the ones outlining the ways that schools are restricting the rights of youth participating in the Day of Silence. Here are a few comments we've received this morning. It's strong reminder of why the Day of Silence is so important.

By 10 am this morning more than 30 students had already benn called to the office for participating in the Day of Silence. They were told to participate they had to go home with an unexcused absence, but they were an educational distraction to be silent all day.
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School personnel are telling me that I cannot support it by putting a printed piece of paper on my shirt telling why i am not talking. And an attendance clerk said to me "I am not playing these stupid little games."
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Administrator sent an e-mail saying to bring all the students participating in the day of silence to the office.
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We can not discuss in class nor give materials to students. Students who choose to participate must report to a counselor. We have been denied having a GSA even after several groups of students have asked for one. We have a transgender student who needs our support. I'm being asked to take down the poster in the library and not hand out bracelets to my group.

If you're experiencing resistance or opposition from your school, please visit the Report It form and let us know. A representative from Lambda Legal may be in contact to assist.

Help Day of Silence for Follow Friday!

2011-04-15T10:09:00.000-04:00

Every Friday the website TopFollowFriday.com ranks tweet endorsements of your favorite Twitterers. Last year the Day of Silence got FIRST PLACE! Even above Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga! See the screenshot:

Help us again this year! Just send a tweet using these tags - #followfriday @dayofsilence - plus a message, like this:

EXAMPLE: #followfriday @dayofsilence Tweet this to endorse the Day of Silence for Follow Friday! PLZ RT!

EXAMPLE: #ff @dayofsilence Tweet this to endorse the Day of Silence for Follow Friday!

Encourage your followers to do the same thing. And don't forget to join @dayofsilence for our Tweet Chat beginning at 3:00pm Eastern: http://tweetchat.com/room/dayofsilence

Thanks for tweeting, and have a great Day of Silence!

DOS Tweet Chat - LIVE! Friday at 3 pm EST

2011-04-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

On the Day of Silence starting at 3 PM EST we'll be hosting a Tweet Chat LIVE! Come and share your experiences with Day of Silence organizers from across the country. Also, a crew of GLSEN staff members will be available to answer your questions.

Participation is easy!

Click here to join the #DayofSilence Tweet Chat room.
Make sure to click "Sign in with Twitter" in the upper right corner.
Enter your Twitter login info.
Join the conversation!

We're excited to hear all of your Day of Silence stories!

The Day They Heard Their Silence, by Anthony Crisci

2011-04-15T08:28:00.001-04:00

Anthony Crisci is GLSEN's Days of Action Intern. He's been working really hard for the past several months to deliver communications, resources and products to student organizers. He reflects on his experience and shares with us his thoughts about the Day of Silence.

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Labeling envelopes, collecting materials, posting information, responding to emails; these are some of the things I do everyday as an intern for the Day of Silence. I have printed out thousands of labels each with a different name, a different address, but not one with a face. While getting ready for the Day of Silence I often try to picture some of the hundreds of thousands of students that will be participating, but despite my efforts they often remain faceless.

These faceless students are exactly what the Day of Silence represents. If schools made addressing anti-LGBT bullying and harassment a priority there certainly would not be a need for this day. The students who will be participating in the Day of Silence are the same students who are forced to walk through school halls each day not only frequently hearing anti-LGBT language and slurs, but in extreme cases becoming victims of anti-LGBT violence. These incidents are not stories that often make the news; they occur so frequently that they are often seen as common place and un-noteworthy.

The Day of Silence is a day when these faceless students make the news. For one day the entire country will stop and acknowledge the existence of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. This time it will not be because of a tragic murder or suicide, this time we will acknowledge this problem because of the peaceful silent demonstration of students who will not remain faceless any longer. I may not be able to see their faces, but students in thousands of schools across the country will be standing together in silence on April 15, 2011. They may be alone at their school, but they know that the entire country will be watching and listening… to their silence.

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Stay tuned for more Day of Silence stories. If you would like to share your story, email us at info@dayofsilence.org.

DID YOU KNOW...? Important Facts

2011-04-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

Today is the National Day of Silence.

DID YOU KNOW...?

Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment in American schools each year.
60% of LGBT youth feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.
Nearly 1 out of 3 LGBT youth missed school in the past month because of safety concerns.

On the National Day of Silence, hundreds of thousands of students at thousands of middle schools, high schools and colleges will take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.

So...what are YOU going to do to end the silence?

All statistics were taken from the 2009 National School Climate Survey.

Day of Silence is TOMORROW! Be Prepared!

2011-04-14T20:00:00.002-04:00

Being a student and an organizer can be a lot! Frequently we hear from organizers who have been planning for the Day of Silence for weeks only to find themselves unprepared on the morning of their event.

So, take the time this afternoon/evening to double check your to-do list with your advisor and/or fellow organizers. Make sure you haven’t put anything off until the last minute because once you get to school you will want to be able to hit the ground running in order to make the biggest impact.

Here are some things to remember as you finalize your arrangements for your Day of Silence event:

LIST: Make a to-do list of final tasks and think of people who could take on some of those tasks for you. Get started with the items on this list!
REGISTER: If you haven't already, be sure to CLICK HERE to register your participation in the Day of Silence and be counted among the hundreds of thousands of other students nationwide participating in the Day of Silence.
CONNECT: The night before your event call, email or text all of the people helping you organize to make sure everyone is on the same page.
PRINT: Be sure you have all the materials you need, and extras to hand out, such as: Speaking Cards, Lambda Legal: Freedom to Speak (Or Not) 2011, ACLU: Letter to Principal or Educator, Stickers, and Posters and cut, fold, or label these materials as needed.
GATHER: Get all Day of Silence items and materials in one place to ensure that they are clean and organized (shirts, buttons, stickers, pamphlets, speaking cards, posters, etc.)
CHARGE: You want to take pictures, right? Text? Tweet? Make sure your camera, phone and computer batteries are all charged up and ready to go in the morning!
DOUBLE CHECK your to-do list: It never hurts to be extra careful!
REST: You're gonna need it for your exciting day of taking action!

Ready, set, go!

Four Things You Should Know about Student Rights and Day of Silence (2011)

2011-04-14T16:31:00.005-04:00

GUEST POST FROM THE ACLU:

Two things I’ve learned over the years that I’ve worked with LGBT students at the American Civil Liberties Union are that many school administrators and teachers don’t have the slightest clue about what their students’ legal rights are, and that a lot of the ones who do know go right ahead and violate students’ rights anyway because they think they can get away with it.

The only way to be sure that your school will respect and uphold your legal rights is for YOU to educate yourself about what your rights are and hold your school to its responsibility to protect and enforce them.

That’s never more true than during the Day of Silence, an annual event designed to bring attention to the bullying, harassment, and name-calling LGBT students often experience in school. Here are four things you need to know about your rights as you mark Day of Silence this year on Friday, April 15.

1. You DO have a right to participate in Day of Silence and other expressions of your opinion at a public school during non-instructional time: the breaks between classes, before and after the school day, lunchtime, and any other free times during your day. If your principal or a teacher tells you otherwise, you should contact our office or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

2. You do NOT have a right to remain silent during class time if a teacher asks you to speak. If you want to stay quiet during class on Day of Silence, we recommend that you talk with your teachers ahead of time, tell them that you plan to participate in Day of Silence and why it’s important to you, and ask them if it would be okay for you to communicate in class on that day in writing. Most teachers will probably say yes.

3. Your school is NOT required to "sponsor" Day of Silence. But Day of Silence is rarely a school-sponsored activity to begin with – it’s almost always an activity led by students. So don't be confused - just because your school isn’t officially sponsoring or participating in Day of Silence doesn’t mean that you can’t participate.

4. Students who oppose Day of Silence DO have the right to express their views, too. Like you, they must do so in a civil, peaceful way and they only have a right to do so during non-instructional time. For example, they don’t have a right to skip school on Day of Silence without any consequences, just as you don't have a right to skip school just because you don’t like what they think or say.

If you’re concerned that your school might forbid you from participating in Day of Silence, you might want to print out the ACLU's "Letter to Educators about the Day of Silence" (2-page PDF) and give it to your school administrators. Tell them they should show the letter to the school’s lawyer. The letter explains what schools' responsibilities are regarding Day of Silence.

And for more information on your rights in public schools, check out the youth and schools section of the ACLU's website.

By Chris Hampton
Youth and Program Strategist
American Civil Liberties Union

Note: If you’ve read the above and think your rights may being violated, let us know! We’ve partnered with Lambda Legal to provide speedy assistance if you’re facing resistance. Report it! and Lambda Legal will be in touch with you as soon as they can.

Have a Duct-Free Day of Silence!

2011-04-14T12:35:00.003-04:00

We’ve received reports from a number of organizers who have suffered problems after wearing duct tape on their mouths. As a consequence we feel it is important to address this safety issue. While we have never encouraged nor endorsed wearing duct tape for the Day of Silence, we recognize that the symbolism of putting duct tape over the mouth has become quite popular amongst some DOS organizers.

Duct tape uses a very strong, water-resistant adhesive. When students attempt to take off the tape we have heard about a range of problems. In some instances there have been minor issues such as having difficulty removing the tape's glue from skin. In other more severe cases, students have experienced hair removal, rashes and skin irritation, and torn or ripped skin.

And, wearing tape over your mouth can cause unwanted resistance from your school's administration who may also be concerned for your safety. As a result they may forbid the use of duct tape or try to stop Day of Silence activities. Since the goal is to be able to have an effective Day of Silence, it may be more strategic to consider other ways of showing your support.

It's definitely not a requirement to cover your mouth for the Day of Silence, but if you want to consider using a bandanna or surgical mask. They're much safer, more comfortable and you can reuse them!

UPDATE: As one organizer has just pointed out, students who wear lip jewelry could be in for a painful breaking the silence.

Day of Silence Student Voices: Coming Out in Silence, by Nowmee

2011-04-14T05:56:00.001-04:00

Day of Silence Reporter and GLSEN Student Ambassador Nowmee S. shares their story of coming out and the importance of the Day of Silence.

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Coming Out in Silence

Sophomore year was coming to an end, and I had survived my first year in an American high school. I had just moved to the US from halfway across the globe and as I was finally getting over home sickness and settling in to my new life I was realizing something about myself that I did not like. Something I did not understand completely and could not identify anyone to talk to about. Being queer was ostracized in my culture and never spoken of with my friends.

Two years ago on a seemingly normal Monday, someone at lunch had mentioned that there was a Gay-Straight Alliance forming in our school and that they were having their first meeting that Friday. I made a quick joke about it and changed the subject. However as the week progressed I found the courage to tell my brother that I was thinking of going to the GSA meeting. Without question he said that he would accompany me. Soon Friday had arrived and coincidently it was also the Day of Silence. Although there was nothing official happening, a lot of students were wearing red to show their support and remained silent throughout the day. It took all the courage I had to walk into that first meeting. As I walked in I saw familiar faces: my classmates, my brother, a teacher I had seen around campus. I was welcomed with a smile and offered snacks.

That Day of Silence I did not come of the closet, in fact I was far from even coming out to myself. However that Friday, in Room 119, I had come out as an ally to LGBT youth. That is the power of the Day of Silence: it gives students a platform to stand up against bullying and show solidarity with LGBT students.

Seeing affirmative students and an adult at that first GSA meeting and during Day of Silence made a world of difference for me. Since then we have a well established GSA at our school and have over a hundred students and teachers participating in the Day of Silence. Today I am a committed LGBT youth activist and have found agency through self advocacy but I am here because of the support of amazing peers and my GSA advisor. I know how lucky I am to have counselors, teachers and even the principal who are supportive and know that is not the case for a lot of students across the nation and around the world. This is my call to all students. Take part in the nation’s largest student led actions; pledge a day of silence this April 15th; pledge a commitment to making schools safer for all students.

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Stay tuned for more Day of Silence stories. If you would like to share your story, email us at info@dayofsilence.org.

8 Tips to Facing Opposition

2011-04-13T19:28:00.002-04:00

As you’ve all seen, there are some groups and some individuals out there who are doing all they can to detract from the purpose of the Day of Silence. Some of these groups are encouraging parents to pull students out of school, organizing events to counter the Day of Silence, or protesting schools and community centers hosting Day of Silence activities. Some individuals have been visiting the Day of Silence pages on Facebook and elsewhere to share hateful comments.

Here are a couple of tips for you if you find yourself facing this type of opposition during your Day of Silence organizing:

Stay cool: It’s difficult to be challenged, and some that oppose the Day of Silence may say hurtful things. Relax. Breathe. Remember that you’re participating in DOS to make a difference, not to start fights.
Step away: The Day of Silence is about starting conversations, but often those strongly opposing DOS are not truly interested in genuine conversation. Some are only interested in provoking you. In these cases it’s best to walk away and not respond. Don’t let anyone detract from the purpose!
Be respectful: The Day of Silence is about ending anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in school. To do this, it's important to treat people with respect. Treat people who oppose the DOS not as they treat you but with the same respect you hope to be treated with. Remember, the Day of Silence is a peaceful demonstration!
Share The Four Truths: Often people make decisions about the Day of Silence without getting accurate information about the action. This document highlights four often misunderstood elements of the Day of Silence. Print it out and provide it to those who may be confused as to what DOS is for.
Report it: If there are people who are bullying or harassing you as part of their opposition, you should report it—to school officials, online authorities, your parents—immediately. In school, make sure to notify a supportive staff member, and ask for their assistance as you follow up on the status of your report.
Share your story: Stay connected with other organizers about your experience. Talk to your student club or tell your story on the Facebook Day of Silence Page and Twitter.
Contact us: If you experience extreme amounts of opposition, face bullying and harassment please fill out this form to let us know. Someone from our partner Lambda Legal will be in touch to assist you.
Spread the word: Share this post with other organizers so that we can all work together to focus our attention on the things that matter to make change.

We hope you have an effective, safe, and fun Day of Silence!

From Feminist Teacher: Prepare for the Day of Silence: Support Student-Activists

2011-04-13T15:23:00.004-04:00

Cross posted from Feminist Teacher: educating for equity and justice

Elizabeth J. Meyer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. She is the author of two books: Gender, bullying, and harassment: Strategies to end sexism and homophobia in schools (2009) and Gender and sexual diversity in schools (2010). She blogs regularly for Psychology Today and the Freire International Project for Critical Pedagogy.

I was excited to get the invitation to write this guest post about the upcoming Day of Silence (DOS) on Friday, April 15, 2011. This is an important event that is taking place in high schools and universities across the country and I was asked to offer some suggestions for educators on how best to support students who have decided to participate in this event.

What is the Day of Silence?

This somewhat controversial event began in 1996 at the University of Virginia when a group of students chose to remain silent for one day to call attention to the anti-LGBT name-calling and harassment at their school. In 2008, over 8,000 middle and high schools registered with GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) to participate. Although it was originally a grassroots, student-initiated event, GLSEN has provided their infrastructure to create educational resources and organizing ideas to their network of chapters and via their website to support widespread participation. There has been backlash in some communities against this event, but students and teachers who have participated indicate that it is a non-confrontational, yet empowering way to highlight these issues in a school community.

What is the controversy?

The Alliance Defense Fund, supported by the Southern Baptist Convention Press promotes a Day of Truth, now the Day of Dialogue, in response to the “homosexual agenda” of public schools participating in DOS activities. In Day of Truth/Day of Dialogue activities, generally scheduled for the day after DOS programs, students are encouraged to express an opposing viewpoint. In 2006, ADF claims students in over 700 schools, participated in Day of Truth activities (Janofsky, 2005). One of the more popular tee-shirts includes the message “Homosexuality is Shameful” along with other religious based anti-gay messages. Some school leaders’ response to this show of intolerance is to ban the shirts from school grounds.

The American Liberties Institute supported the efforts of James Nixon against a middle school for not allowing his son to wear a tee-shirt stating, among other things, “Homosexuality is a sin!” (Nixon v. Northern Local School District Board of Education, 2005). The Southern District Court of Ohio granted an injunction prohibiting enforcement of the tee-shirt ban.

In a similar case, Tyler Harper was suspended for wearing a “Homosexuality is Shameful” tee-shirt (Harper v. Poway, 2006). The principal considered Tyler’s message to be “inflammatory.” Poway High School has been the scene of several altercations and incidents surrounding DOS events. In fact, Tyler admitted that he had been confronted by a group of students protesting the shirt that very morning. Further, a San Diego Superior Court jury had recently awarded damages of $175,000 and $125,000 to two former Poway High School students because of a failure to protect them from peer sexual orientation harassment (Littlefield, 2005). The 9th Circuit Court concluded that Tyler’s tee-shirt did collide with the rights of other students. As such, it was proper for the district to ban the wearing of the tee-shirt.

Balancing law and pedagogy: What are educators to do?

Although there are contradictory legal precedents on how to address these situations in schools, the DOS can provide great teachable moments for educators. Teachers, counselors, and administrators can use it as an opportunity to promote dialogue around civic engagement, the role of allies in promoting equality rights, as well as bullying and harassment related to homophobia and transphobia. I wrote a blog post about stopping bullying based on gender and sexuality that can provide some talking points for teachers.

In a democratic nation, it is very important for schools to teach and promote civic engagement. One important element of this is to be able to understand the issues in your community, draw conclusions based on your knowledge and experiences, and then take action to improve the issues identified. The DOS is a wonderful example of students participating in democracy and expressing their concern in a respectful and relevant way in order to encourage change in their school communities. For more information on students’ legal rights, you should read this guide from Lambda Legal.

Issues of solidarity are also important in social change movements. It is valuable for students to learn about ally work and what it means to help advocate for the needs of a silenced minority group.

5 Ways Educators can teach through the “Day of Silence”

Make an announcement at the beginning of each class that you are aware of the event, and that you will ask students participating to contribute to class in other ways (writing on the board, yes/no signs, reflective writing piece, etc.).
Break the silence around LGBT issues in the curriculum. Find some relevant way to address LGBT invisibility in your course content. Either discuss the absence of the topic in your course texts, or prepare a lesson that explicitly addresses issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, LGBT rights, or notable contributions by LGBT people in history (arts, sports, literature, math, science, etc.).
Show your support by wearing a “Day of Silence” T-shirt. You can make your own or order one online. Although you may not be able to maintain your silence all day long, the visible show of solidarity with the students can be a powerful one. I did this when I was working at the University of New Hampshire in 2003, and many students expressed their appreciation for this gesture.
Ask your students to write a reflection essay on the reasons they chose or chose not to participate. This can help teach critical thinking, logical reasoning, and encourage them to consider their position on bullying and harassment as well as LGBT equality rights and the role that each individual can play in maintaining or challenging the status-quo.
Work together with the student council and the administration at your school to plan a post-Day of Silence assembly and debrief. Invite outside speakers to be on a panel that can address topics such as: bullying and harassment, the invisibility of LGBT individuals and history from the curriculum, current local issues related to safety and equality for LGBT people, legal issues related to freedom of expression in the school community, and/or separation of church and state (particularly if Day of Truth/Day of Dialogue events are planned).

I hope you find these ideas helpful – please post questions or responses about how things went at your schools and universities on the Day of Silence this Friday.

Readers can visit Meyers’s webpage, follow her on Twitter, and read her blog posts at Psychology Today.

- Elizabeth J. Meyer

Tweet the Silence on April 15th

2011-04-12T13:11:00.003-04:00

Tweet, not speak.
On the Day of Silence. Friday, April 15 we want to get as many people as possible to tweet about DOS as much as you can to help spread the word about its importance. Here's how you can participate:

1) Sign Up on Twitter! It's easy to get a Twitter account, just CLICK HERE to get started.

2) Get a Twibbon! CLICK HERE to add the stylish Day of Silence twibbon for your Twitter icon to let others know that you're supporting the Day of Silence.

3) Use the #DayofSilence Hashtag! Hashtags are words starting with # and create easily searchable posts. It makes it so that Day of Silence supporters can find your tweet! Each time you update, be sure to include #DayofSilence somewhere in the tweet.

4) Tweet all day on April 15! You can tweet about anything Day of Silence related. Tweet what you’re doing for DOS. Tweet how many students are participating at your school. Tweet the different ways you’re getting support. Tweet if you’re holding a Breaking the Silence event. Tweet about how many buttons you’re wearing. Tweet about the reactions of your classmates. Just keep the tweets coming!

IMPORTANT! If you are a student in middle or high school, make sure you only tweet during times that your school permits. Tweet in the morning before school starts, at lunch (if allowed) and especially after school.

Tweet Chat LIVE Friday!
We’ll have a team tweet-in on Friday afternoon in solidarity with all the hundreds of thousands of students participating in the Day of Silence. We’ll do our best to keep up with your questions. Stay tuned to @DayofSilence on Twitter for more information!

How does Twitter work? Learn more with this video.

Day of Silence Student Voices: Red O.

2011-04-11T19:25:00.001-04:00

GLSEN Student Ambassador Red O. shares their story of coming out and the importance of the Day of Silence.

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With fear, pride, and a shaky voice I was forced to pull my self out of my comfortable yet crammed up closet. The closet I had been a refugee in for as long as I could remember. Their reaction was less violent and dramatic than I had expected. No glass was shattered, but something inside me broke by their reaction. "Stay quiet about this!" my mother demanded. "Don't you dare tell anyone else about you being like THAT." Like that? She could not even repeat what I had just told her. A simple three letter word that I usually said happily and proud had been turned into a sick, unmentionable word. Her words were painful, but the look she gave me could kill. "You are confused; You will change your mind when you find the right guy!" she continued as tears rolled down my cheek. I tried to speak but the words just choked me. Tears were all I could release. I stood there frozen as the woman, that held me in her arms when I was younger and put band-aids on my boo-boos, spit hate at me. That night, as I sat in my room both relieved and sad, I heard her say that I was not the child she expected I would be and that she was very disappointed.

Silence! That is what she wanted from me; her loud kid that gets in trouble for being overly hyper and talkative. But you know what? No one can make me feel bad for being myself! I am proud and no one will take that away! You may be able to repress me and keep my mouth shut for a while, but not forever! Soon I will be free to skip in the daisy fields and scream, "I am GAY and proud!" I will fly without a muzzle away from here!

I am lucky though. While I have only been temporarily silenced, others silence is more permanent. Everyday LGBT teens are silenced by their peers, parents, and other authorities. Some are silenced for moments, some for years, others for life. Some are bullied into silence, others are murdered into it. This Day of Silence, I will show support to those who have been muzzled in fear by giving up my voice for a day. It is important that we all stand together to make the echo of silence roar through our communities. Let kids know that they are not alone and that some people really do care.

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Stay tuned for more Day of Silence stories. If you would like to share your story, email us at info@dayofsilence.org.

Day of Silence Organizer #6: Here at Last!

2011-04-11T14:32:00.003-04:00

The Day of Silence, Friday, April 15, is fast approaching and it's time to get organizing! Each week we'll post tips to help you plan your Day of Silence activities.

Goals for April 11-15
Day of Silence is almost here! It’s time to pump up the excitement and to make sure everyone is prepared!

Spread the word: You've worked for weeks to get the word out about the Day of Silence, so keep it going! Make sure students, teachers and administrators in your school know that the Day of Silence is happening and what to expect from participants. Notifying people early is the key to a successful and effective Day of Silence!
Be visible: Red is the official DOS color, so if everyone participating wears red you'll be sure to stand out. And don’t forget t-shirts, buttons, stickers, face-paint—these are all ways you can help draw attention to your action.
Be respectful: The Day of Silence is about ending anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in school. To do this, it's important to treat people with respect. There are likely people at your school who will try to challenge your silence, your activities or your beliefs. Treat these people not as they treat you but with the same respect you hope to be treated with. Remember, the Day of Silence is a peaceful demonstration!
Know your rights: Remember, you DO have the right to remain silent between classes and before/after school. You do NOT have the right to ignore your teachers' requests during instructional time. If a teacher asks for you to speak during class, do it! Please don’t put your education at risk. Review this document, which outlines some of your rights during the Day of Silence. (Lambda Legal PDF Download)

If you have any questions or ideas, or if you want to tell us what you’re planning for your Day of Silence please email us at info@dayofsilence.org.

And don't forget to join the conversation on the Day of Silence Page on Facebook and @DayofSilence on Twitter.

Can you access www.DayofSilence.org on your school computers?

2011-04-07T14:08:00.000-04:00

ACLU’s Don’t Filter Me Project

Did you know that it’s illegal for public schools to use their web filtering software to deny students access to positive, affirming information about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues while allowing access to anti-LGBT websites? The American Civil Liberties Union’s LGBT Project, along with the Yale Law School LGBT Litigation Clinic, is asking public high school students throughout the U.S. to check out your high school’s web filters to make sure you’re not being blocked from information you have a right to have!

CLICK HERE to learn how to check and report on your school’s filtering.

For more info, check out this great video:

Question of the Week: Right to Silence

2011-04-06T13:58:00.000-04:00

Can a teacher tell me to speak during class? What are my rights when I participate in the Day of Silence?

According to Lambda Legal, “Under the Constitution, public schools must respect students’ right to free speech. The right to speak includes the right not to speak, as well as the right to wear buttons or T-shirts expressing support for a cause…”

However, this right to free speech does not extend to classroom time. “If a teacher tells a student to answer a question during class, the student generally doesn’t have a constitutional right to refuse to answer.” We remind participants that students who talk with their teachers ahead of time are more likely to be able to remain silent during class.

Know your rights! Read The Freedom to Speak (Or Not) by Lambda Legal to learn about your legal rights to participate in the Day of Silence.

Report It! Are you experiencing resistance to your Day of Silence organizing or activities from your school administrators or faculty? If you are a student in a U.S. K-12 school and feel like your rights are not being respected, please click here to let us know!