In America, things are rarely quiet. We’re known for the noise, the buzz and bustle, the constant communications in the media, government, businesses and our personal lives that crescendos exponentially every second. And it’s all in the name of progress, right?
Silence, though unsettling to some of today’s hyper-networked individuals, can be just as or even more powerful than the loudest, most eloquent proclamations. It gives pause to those constantly chattering or “tweeting,” while allowing those being silent time for greater reflection and listening, two essential communication elements largely overlooked today.
Tomorrow on April 17, the National Day of Silence will be taking place in schools across the country. Coordinated by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, students are encouraged to participate in a vow of silence to raise awareness of LGBT harassment and bullying daily faced by students, teachers and school staff. Since the program started, more than 500,000 students from nearly 6,500 junior high and high schools in all 50 states and Puerto Rico have participated.
There is no single way to participate, with some students remaining silent during the whole day, others during breaks and lunch and others pausing for a moment of silence at the beginning of the day. National Day of Silence and GLSEN encourage students to take part in the way that is most positive and uplifting for their school. Ultimately, the goal is to quietly communicate the need to address bullying and harassment in schools today.
Nearly half of all children experience some form of name-calling, harassment or bullying in school as we don’t live in a perfect world. I personally believe policies only go so far, and that parents, community and media must set the examples that are children see and imitate in America’s halls and classrooms. As for specific LGBT harassment or bullying, GLSEN’s 2007 National School Climate Survey found that:
- More than 85 percent of LGBT students have been verbally harassed
- Nearly 20 percent of LGBT students were physically assaulted by their peers at school
- Almost 40 percent of LGBT students reported that faculty and staff never intervene when homophobic language is used in their presence
- Nearly 30 percent of LGBT students reported missing at least one entire school day because they felt unsafe
Many of our fellow LGBT bloggers have covered recent communications released on behalf of those opposed to tomorrow’s events. You can view their arguments and materials at the following links:
- Joe.My.God.'s "The Day of Silence Walkout Coalition"
- Good As You's "Their Bling Eyes are DEAD Wrong"
- 365Gay.com's "Conservative Groups Call for School Boycott of Day of Silence"
- Towleroad's "Illinois Hate Group's Anti-Gay 'Misinformational' Attacks 'Day of Silence'"
Rather than again provide copy space to these communications, I instead refer you to my post on Monday and the news clip at the end of this post. Anderson Cooper makes a strong point that racial slurs and harassment would never be tolerated by teachers and school staff today, though LGBT slurs continue to be overlooked. It is clearly evident that LGBT bullying is destroying the lives of many children, some who lose sight of their full potential in the sea of slurs and harassment they receive daily and take their own lives.
Amidst the buzz, the chatter and constant communications, tomorrow is an opportunity to quiet the noise and think of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, LGBT bullying and harassment, and what your role and influence is on this issue. We here at the Out Front blog hope you’ll take that moment of silence.
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