Early Friday morning the GSA sat at a booth outside the sub. They handed out red duct tape with “silent” written on it, as well as having a board with information on the Day of Silence and dance. Many people stopped and inquired into what the silence was about. It was, however, not an easy day.
Friday, April 20, NIC’s Gay Straight Alliance participated in the Day of Silence. This is a day held across the country in schools, from elementary to college, in response to the many young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual youth who keep silent from fear of being judged or prosecuted. The GSA gathered together in the student union building at 9 a.m. and the silence ended at 10 p.m. at the Breaking the Silence” dance.
“It was hard. Being a talkative person it was challenging for me to be quiet for so long. It helped that I wasn’t alone. That and duct tape. But I think that it was worth it to get the word out,” said Jesus Nunez, 21, Cartagema, Colombia, biology.
All of NIC’s Day of Silence students handed put “Speaking Cards” which said:
“Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by name-calling, bullying and harassment. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?”
The Day of Silence originated in 1996 as an effort to create a safer environment for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. One hundred and fifty students participated in the first Day of Silence. The event received local press coverage, bringing about the national Day of Silence.
At noon, everyone participating removed their red duct tape to eat together as one. They all dissipated around 4 p.m., though, to get ready for the Breaking the Silence dance.
The dance had a turnout of about 50 people, some couples of both the same sex and opposite sex. It was a dance like every other – loud music, people having fun, and someone getting upset because their feelings were hurt. The dance kicked off with a slide show to illustrate what the Day of Silence was about and ended with a loud cheer and everyone making an effort to help clean up.
