Following the Day of Dialogue on April 9, students and staff members were invited to participate in a National Day of Silence on Friday, April 10, the 30th anniversary of the student-led protest. This Day of Silence was created to raise awareness of the silencing of LGBTQIA+ people caused by bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Stickers were handed out at all the main entrances to the school, denoting if people were “silent supporters” who did not speak until 3 p.m. and held a card explaining their silence or “vocal allies,” who continued to speak but wore a sticker to help explain the purpose of the day. At the end of the school day, the Queer Student Program (QSP) held a Break the Silence Festival in the quad.
The Day of Silence had not occurred since 2019, according to history teacher and QSP co-leader Kate Leslie.
“We knew that this year was going to be almost like a trial run. This year is about just helping people understand what the Day of Silence is,” Leslie said. “So I love that more and more people have come and picked up vocal allies stickers. If we continue with the Day of Silence next year, I hope we’re able to compel more people to decide to be silent supporters.”
Senior Sunshine Messing took part in the Day of Silence and did not speak until the festival at the end of the school day. She said she got through the day using non-verbal communication and that it was not as challenging as she had expected.
“I like to do everything that I can to stand in solidarity with the transgender community. I heard this was something that was happening. I thought it sounded cool. So I joined it,” Messing said.
Freshman Meredith Kramer also participated in the Day of Silence. They said they decided to participate in the silence because too many people are silent when action is needed.
“The belief is, people will notice when people who usually aren’t silent are silent, and it will make a big effect once you break the silence,” Kramer said.
The festival featured a visual countdown to break the silence, and students celebrated with kazoos, noisemakers and music. There was cornhole, temporary tattoos, spikeball and more games.
“Some of it is just having a load of fun that is not specifically LGBTQ related; some of it is specific games that we’ve made that are LGBTQ themed,” Leslie said. “Really, the goal is to have a festival that is just an outgrowth of pure joy and happiness in celebration of putting on these 2 days and then breaking the silence.”
