Day of Silence Past and Present

Every year, in April, GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network) sponsors The Day of Silence.

“…Day of Silence is a student-led national event…bringing awareness to the silencing effects of anti-LGBTQ name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students…take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBTQ behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBTQ students and those perceived to be LGBTQ.”

I first participated in Day of Silence in 2008 when I was in 9th grade. Some participants take a full vow of silence, choosing not to communicate at all, except through shaking/nodding their heads. Others carry note cards with pre-written responses as their only form of communication. That first year, I chose to write in my notebook rather than speak. Below is the transcript of everything I “said” that day.

Day of Silence, April 25, 2008

  • You pronounce the “H,” Mrs. Moyer says it wrong
  • I’ll write it and show them
  • A bunch of the girl in Gifted
  • We’re continuing research
  • No
  • I pledge allegience (sic) to the flag…
  • I’ll type
  • Thanks
  • She does
    • When? (Mr. Depasqua)
  • Soccer
    • Gotcha (MD)
  • JCP
  • Okay, any ideas?
  • Should we have something about the husband telling the wife that she may be able to vote, but he’s not going to let her drive?
  • I’ll take this home and work on it.
  • I eat whenever
  • Library Here
  • Thanks
  • Ours
  • If you think about “the Game” you loose (sic).
  • SAMMY
  • Yes?
  • I find no humor in this
  • What is it you wanted?
  • Got it
  • Never mind
  • Just never mind
  • Homework?
  • Gracias
  • Good idea
  • I’ve stayed in the Randolph Hotel before
  • Oxford
  • It already does
  • OH YAH!
  • HMM
  • We just take the shampoo
  • But did you see the Simpsons episode where Homer stole everything from several hotel rooms?
  • Good
  • I just don’t do posting
  • Just
  • There’s a lot of good ones
  • He might
  • I just think it’s pretty, but it means that art is usually a peaceful process and there should be more art, less war
  • Kills small business
  • probably
  • everything including the kitchen kink
  • What’s the point?
  • remotes
  • LED flashlights are really expensive, too.
  • Some really expensive hotels can be pretty crappy
  • sure
  • Something Literary
  • Scribbles
  • Beheading
  • Black Queen
  • Ooh she’s pretty
  • Time Flys
  • Time’s Square New Years Eve
  • That’s redundant
  • That’s a little like eves dropping
  • We’re not keeping score
  • Squirrel
  • moth
  • first lady
  • Betsy Ross
  • Britain
  • Asia
  • Mother Russia

I’ve always been incredibly passionate about this event. Throughout Middle School, I was bullied. Classmates would make fun of my clothes, mock me for wanting to answer questions, ostracize me for my lack of religious belief, called a lesbian for holding my best friend’s hand.

I’m lucky. I’ve got a pretty thick skin, and I’ve always defined myself rather than let others define me. I have supportive parents. My mother was a professional counselor, and I knew I could talk to her. She gave me strategies for dealing with the day-to-day life of an odd-ball middle-schooler.

Not everyone is lucky.

So even if you’re not able to participate in Day of Silence, keep an eye out for bullying behavior. Call it out. Be a support. Be an ally.

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to like and subscribe.

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