Tampa Bay
Coalition
Posts this Announcement in Support and on Behalf
of;
Gay Lesbian Straight Education
Network
Day of Silence Project
2003
Day of Silence in Congressional Spotlight
Thanks to Representative Engel of New York
New York and Washington, D.C. - Today, for
the second consecutive year, U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) introduced a
resolution calling on Congress to recognize the efforts of students nationwide
who will be organizing and participating in the Day of Silence, a project of
GLSEN, to protest harassment in schools. The resolution (H.CON.RES.86)
recognizes the Day, set for April 9, 2003, during which students, teachers and
administrators in all 50 states will take a vow of silence in solidarity with
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students who face harassment and
discrimination each day in America’s schools.
"GLSEN's hard work on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students is to be commended,” Engel said. “To bolster their efforts, I am
introducing a resolution to spotlight the
Day of Silence. Our government
has a responsibility to ensure that all Americans have access to an education in
a school free from harassment and abuse."
The Day of Silence, coordinated by GLSEN in partnership with the United
States Student Association, is the largest student-led action on LGBT issues in
the country – and perhaps the largest student-organized action of any kind. In
2002, more than 150,000 students in nearly 2000 middle and high schools took the
vow of silence, up from 300 mostly college campuses in 2001.
“We again this year applaud Congressman Engel for being a leader in bringing
the powerful message of the Day of Silence to our nation’s top lawmakers and
their constituents,” said GLSEN’s Federal and National Policy Manager, Courtney
Snowden. “Congressman Engel truly understands what it means to leave no child
behind at a time when the President’s education budget is cutting programs that
help to protect LGBT students.”
The GLSEN 2001 National School Climate Survey found that four out of five
LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and 30%
report missing at least one day of school in the past month due to fear.
Get Involved: Day of Silence, April 9,
2003
If you want more information before sending your message,
click here to read some background information on the issue.
On April 9, 2003, people who support creating safe schools for all,
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, will take a
day-long vow of silence to recognize and protest the harassment, prejudice and
discrimination – in effect, the silencing – that LGBT people face. Instead of
speaking, high school and university participants will hand out “speaking cards”
printed with the following message:
"Please understand my reasons for not speaking
today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement
protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people,
and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused
by harassment, prejudice and discrimination. 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, which began in 1996, is a powerful tool
for creating positive change — at the personal, community and institutional
levels — that lasts far beyond the day itself. Depending on the location of your
school, the makeup of your student body, the relationships between students and
faculty, and other factors, the climate in your school with regards to LGBT
people and issues could be incredibly hostile, incredibly welcoming or somewhere
in between. Whatever your situation, the Day of Silence is an effort that can
raise awareness of LGBT issues, prompting people to think and talk about them.
We encourage you to take the following actions in support of
the Day of Silence:
- Organize a group of people at your school to participate
in this year’s Day of Silence on April 9th. To begin organizing, register
(it’s free!) with the Day of Silence Project online at www.dayofsilence.org
- At the site download the Day of Silence Organizing Manual
for specific ideas, strategies and tips that can help to make your Day of
Silence planning a success! Also search for community Breaking the Silence
events that will occur across the country at the end of the
day.
