By Dawn Wolfe Gutterman
On April 13, students at public schools and universities throughout the country will counter anti-LGBT violence and harassment with silence.
Yes, silence.
Since 1996, the National Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Alliance has sponsored the Day of Silence Project, which began in 1996 with a protest at the University of Virginia.
During the Day of Silence, protestors silently hand out cards detailing the discrimination faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students every day. Protestors stay silent in solidarity with LGBT students, whose voices are often silenced by school administrations, faculty and other students.
According to the National Day of Silence website, www.dayofsilence.org, schools in states from Hawaii to Mishawaka, Indiana will be taking part in this year's observance. Planned activities include rallies, dances, and an open mic.
And, of course, the silence.
The event's momentum began building early this year. According to GLSEN in February, "With two months to go until this yearÕs event, students from more than 1,200 K-12 schools from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and our nation's capital, have registered to participate Рan unprecedented number so long before the event."
Activists in Michigan are also busy putting together Day of Silence activities. At Michigan State University, the LGBT Alliance has taken out a full-page ad in the State News. Spectrum, an LGBT residence hall caucus, is also planning a silent protest.
Universities aren't the only organizations commemorating the event. At 5 p.m., Detroit's Ruth Ellis Center will close so that the center can hold a commemoration at Palmer Park. Youths will gather in a quiet zone, which will be marked by a grid on the ground, "in honor of youth who have suffered violence and humiliation at the hands of fellow students and teachers with no support from their school administrations." At approximately 6 p.m., demonstrators will release helium balloons, a signal to "release our silence." Ruth Ellis Center street outreach workers and staff will remain at the park after the hour of silence to grill hot dogs and conduct street outreach.
Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center is reportedly working with three metro Detroit area schools. Further information was not available at press time.
Extremists to counter Day of Silence with day of 'truth'
Unfortunately, religious extremists are planning once again to have the last word. According to a report in the Baptist Press, extremist organizers are planning on holding a "Day of 'Truth'" protest on April 14, the day after the Day of Silence commemoration. According to the report, the Alliance Defense Fund has promised to defend for free any student who attempts to disseminate anti-gay propaganda at a school that has allowed a Day of Silence event to take place. The Baptist Press quoted Joe Infranco, a senior attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, as saying, "For a school to allow the former and not the latter would be 'viewpoint discrimination,' which is impermissible under any circumstances."
Support the Day of Silence!
For more information about the National Day of Silence, visit http://www.dayofsilence.org.
For more about GLSEN, including information on Michigan chapters, visit http://www.glsen.org.
The Ruth Ellis Center is accepting donations of hot dogs, buns, chips, and soda for their event at Palmer Park, which is at the corner of McNichols and Woodward in Detroit. For more information, call 313-964-2091.
For information about Affirmations' work on Day of Silence events, contact Cass Varner, youth services coordinator, at 248-398-1705, ext. 14.
