The Lincoln Log

Silence. Often times, when practiced correctly, it can be more powerful than words. On April 18, 2007, close to one hundred students of Abraham Lincoln High School participated in the 11th Annual National Day of Silence.

Students maintain verbal silence usually for the entire day or during active school hours to echo the silence that the LBGT (lesbian bisexual gay transgender) and its allies face everyday.

The first Day of Silence took place in 1996, in which 150 students of the University of Virginia participated. This spark ignited the flame that spread quickly through the country. Tens of thousands of people nationwide participate in this event now. This phenomenon represents cultural acceptance, and in some cases, religious defiance.

Harassment and bullying due certain sexual preferences are one of the tragedies in society today, not to mention also one of the major sources in school conflicts. In such a liberal city such as San Francisco, people still endure discrimination and harassment due to their sexuality, we can’t even image the horrors people face in less liberal cities. On the Day of Silence, students take a vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LBGT students and their straight allies. In 2006, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) estimated over 450,000 students in 4,000 high schools and colleges participated in the Day of Silence. Each student is given a card to wear, which explains the reason of their protest. This year, the card ended with a question: “What are you going to do to end the silence?” this encourages people to think of ways to help.

Although sexual preference seems like less of a crisis in progressive cities, it still occurs, and it can’t be stressed enough how people are harassed and bullied daily because someone doesn’t fit common “standards” of how people of a society should be.

“Personally, I feel like I’m an active participator in GSA [Gay-Straight Alliance],” GSA president, Amanda Price said. “I believe the Day of Silence is an important day where people should gain knowledge and others who already know about it should help promote awareness. Every year it happens, a point is being made, and just the fact that the crisis is acknowledged is a step up.”