The National Day of Silence is a youth-led day of action during which hundreds of thousands of students take a vow of silence in order to bring attention to issues faced by LGBT youth, including bullying, name-calling and harassment.
This marks the 14th year of Day of Silence, which was started in 1996 at the University of Virginia. Since then, it has grown to include students honoring the day individually by remaining silent or putting tape over their mouths, and with group-led events, marches, rallies, poetry readings and more.
In 2008, students started handing out "Speaking Cards," which read, ""Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by name-calling, bullying and harassment. 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?"
The 2010 Day of Silence will take place officially on April 16, although events are being held before, on and after that date.
Check out http://www.dayofsilence.com, or their Facebook, MySpace and Twitter pages for ideas on how to get involved.
Thursday, April 15
Day of Silence Flash Mob, 12:20 p.m. An event during which students – at any location on campus – will hold a pose for five minutes, showing what being silenced as an LGBTQA person looks like to them. Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti. 734-776-8818, [email protected]
Pride Week Film Festival, 7 p.m. Showing "For the Bible Tells Me So." Free. Hosted by UM-Dearborn Gay Straight Alliance. UM-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen, Dearborn http://gsa.umd.umich.edu.
Friday, April 16
Day of Silence Bowling, 5:30 p.m. A night of bowling hosted by the Lansing Community College Gay-Straight Alliance. Cost: $10 for game and shoes. Holiday Lanes, 3101 E. Grand River, Lansing http://www.lcc.edu.
Staceyann Chin, 6 p.m. A performance of poetry as part of the National Day of Silence. Hosted by the MSU LGBT Resource Center. Fairchild Theatre, Michigan State University, East Lansing http://www.lbgtrc.msu.edu.
The Official MSU Drag Show, 8 p.m. A performance by some of the area's favorite drag queens and kings. Hosted by the MSU LGBT Resource Center. International Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing http://www.lbgtrc.msu.edu.
Saturday, April 17
Pride Week Prom, 8 p.m. A night of magic under the stars with light refreshments, a photo station, prom favors for the first 100 people and, of course, dancing. MSU Union, Michigan State University, East Lansing http://www.lbgtrc.msu.edu.
Wednesday, April 21
Pride Luncheon, 11 a.m. An end-of-year celebration, presentation and panel discussion featuring Triangle Foundation/Michigan Equality Director of Policy Bernadette Brown, ACLU of Michigan LGBT Project staff attorney Jay Kaplan and Student Activities Office LGBTQA Program Assistant Thomas Wesley. Free. Kochoff Hall C,UM-Dearborn, 4901 Evergreen, Dearborn http://gsa.umd.umich.edu.
Friday, April 23
Break the Silence Open Mic Night, 7 p.m. A night at an open and affirming church allowing LGBT youth and allied families and friends to speak out about LGBTQ equality. All are welcome to this free event, but space is limited, so RSVPs are recommended. Hosted by the Calhoun County Coalition for Inclusion, and made possible by the support of the Arcus Foundation. St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 16 Van Buren, Battle Creek. 269-964-0885 http://www.ppscm3ci.org.
