GLSEN Day of Silence
This update was submitted by frequent commenter and occasional poster Coach.
Today is The Day of Silence, a GLSEN supported activity that asks GLBT students and their allies to refrain from speaking for a full day as a way to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying & harassment in schools. Or in college, a more philosophical spirit of repping all those who've been silenced / marginalized because of their sexual & gender identity.
The backlash to The Day of Silence is The Day of Truth, and this year was no exception.
While the 1st Ammendment issues are interesting, I'm also interested in why use silence? Someone once said that the only people who can afford to give up their right to speak are those that have never truly had it threatened. I'm from the Clinton era of sort of benign, passive activism. Maybe we should be telling kids to ACT-UP more than button up?
6 Comments:
If anecdotal evidence is to be believed, it sounds like it's working alright: blog.dayofsilence.org.
i think the reason they use silence is because its the least disruptive way for kids to protest at school. the schools wouldnt back something like this up if it caused any problems.
The Supreme Court has ruled that grade school is not a constitutional democracy. Schools may prohibit activities that are likely to distract or upset other students, thus disrupting other students' educations--- educations to which all children are entitled by right. Recently the court ruled that schools may restrict activities that contradict the school's educational message. (google "bong hits 4 Jesus")
I'm a high school teacher and participated in the day of silence the last two years. Last year we had a couple faculty members and a couple of kids participating. This year we had at least twice the number of faculty (and the rest of the faculty was more aware and supportive of our participation). The growth in student participation was exponential. We don't have many explicitly out students at the school but I imagine for all our queer kids it was probably useful on some level to have so much public support from peers and adults. And for me it was a useful moment with some of the kids who (somehow) hadn't heard that their Latin teacher was a big ol' homo.
As a teacher, the only place I experienced the Day of Silence was when I led a GSA meeting at a very exclusive DC private school. I certainly saw the benefits of silence there and the kids, who were very comfortable being out and pretty much fully supported by staff, familes, etc., seemed to have a chance to really reflect on why this day exists. It was really powerful for me as well (also, teaching a whole class period in silence is kind of amazing). However, I think this (not just this experience, but the schools in which Day of Silence usually happens) proves Coach's point: I think the Day of Silence's benefits come with privlege. The impact is truly felt by those who are used to speaking and being heard; and, for one day, they experience that silence. What about people who never see themselves reflected in mainstream gay culture, the media, and even within our own queer communities? Is silence the answer? Perhaps we should be fighting injustice as hard and loud as we can.
Well I think the silence is a good thing in schools as for other protests think being loud is the answer.
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com
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