Since 1996, students across the nation have been holding a silent protest every April 9, participating in what has become known as the Day of Silence Project. Endorsed by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network and the United States Student Association, Day of Silence has spread to over 1,900 high schools and college campuses across America.
The project uses silence as a tool, contrasting its use as a mechanism of oppression towards specific groups of people. The Day of Silence is geared towards observing the widespread silence that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community has been subjected to in the past. Whether it is due to lack of LGBT-specific educational material provided to the public, or assigning individuals to certain roles based on their gender, the protest is concerned with “creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.”
Supporters of the program are not necessarily part of the LGBT community but are interested in creating equality among individuals, regardless of lifestyle. Participants choose their own way to contribute to the program, be it devoting an hour to silence, the whole day, organizing school events to promote the program, or participating in local events already set in action.
The GLSEN New York Capital Region and Schenectady County Reality Check will be organizing an event at The Egg in Albany called “Breaking the Silence” with a theme of expressive art. The event will be held on April 9 between 4 and 8 pm and is open to any students, teachers, and community members who wish to take part in the performances.
More history and information on the project can be found at http://www.dayofsilence.org/, and information about “Breaking the Silence” in Albany at http://www.glsennycr.org/.
