Across the United States, thousands of schools work alongside GLSEN to recognize LGBTQ issues through Day of Silence (DOS). GLSEN is an organization that started in 1990 by a group of teachers in Massachusetts, who were tired of seeing their students relentlessly bullied or ignored by the school system for their sexual orientation. Since then, GLSEN has worked from the student to the legislative level and has organized DOS for over 25 years. On this day, students across the nation vow to not talk for a whole school day in honor of those who are forced into silence because of how they identify. You can either be a silent ally or a speaking ally (in support of the cause but choosing not to be silent). A small private school in Westport, CT is taking their support for the LGBTQ community a step further.
Greens Farms Academy (GFA)'s gay-straight alliance, QUEST, annually focuses on one hue of the LGBTQ spectrum and educates the rest of the GFA community in preparation of DOS. Last year they focused on what it means to be an ally - 166 students registered as speaking allies and 91 remained silent. Because of the media's sudden focus on the transgender community, QUEST has decided to focus their attention on transgender issues.
Day of Speaking will be like any other school day - with a twist. Members of QUEST have spent the past week preparing short paragraphs with historical examples of LGBTQ members and the importance of understanding transgender issues and the discrimination and injustice that they face. At the beginning of every class, they are given a platform of 5 minutes to read their blurbs and answer any questions their peers may have. In support of the cause, every teacher has given QUEST permission to present.
According to QUEST's teacher facilitator, Betsy Bergeron, this is going to be a necessary part of a new tradition:
"The Day of Silence is important to us at GFA because it is probably the only occasion where being LGBTQ and acknowledging issues related to our LGBTQ community are FORMALLY recognized. As a private school, we are not bound by state or federal laws requiring GFA to recognize either the day or our community but GFA does so. I wish that there was a way to involve the entire school but that has not happened yet, still a goal of all of ours, I think. Historically, the DOS and National Coming Out Day (in October) were used as vehicles to make people aware of how many LGTBQ people they knew, worked with, went to school with or were friends or family with. We are an invisible minority so this was a way to make us more visible to the heterosexual community. There is still latent homophobia and overt homophobia in all areas of our country and the world so that is why we must continue to be outspoken and visible. Even here at GFA, our community can and has encountered homophobia - more of the latent kind, I believe, but still very real, nonetheless. It is an ongoing "battle", if you will, to become fully accepted - with no qualifying remarks - by all members of GFA, our country and the world. The Day Of Silence serves to remind people how important and vital LGBTQ people are to our everyday lives, jobs and activities by silencing our voices, much like the "Day Without Immigrants" served to remind people how vital immigrants are to our country. Silence is a very powerful tool - "Cum Tacent Clamant" - "With Their Silence, They Scream" - I hope that the day will come, in my lifetime, when we do not need a Day Of Silence for any oppressed community and when our schools have no need for GSAs. Until that day comes, I will continue to encourage students, educate students and fight against any bigotry."
The Results?
In response, numerous students throughout the day exclaimed how great an idea the Day of Speaking was. A large majority said that they believed in the cause however had no idea the extent of people's hate historically. However, there was a slight decrease in participants this year. It did not add up given the positive response from the day before. Luckily, an answer soon presented itself. The day's atrocious weather caused a large population of students to be late - in turn missing the participant sign up.
While there was not a statistically positive response, QUEST has decided to keep the Day of Speaking as a new tradition. It is still important to educate the community in any way possible.
