In order to bring awareness to the silencing effects of harassment and bullying in school towards those in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) community, the Athens Drive Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA) took part in the National Day of Silence, April 17.

“This movement is important because not many people in the LGBT community feel safe or comfortable voicing their thoughts and beliefs.  On a daily basis their voices are suppressed; we need to bring awareness to this,” said Owen Clapp, junior.

The Day of Silence was founded in 1996 at the University of Virginia.  It has become a national day of action and has become a powerful opportunity for students to be able to make statement about the harmful effects of bullying and harassment of those in the LGBT+ community.  According to the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) website, nearly nine out of ten LGBT+ students have been bullied due to their sexual orientation or gender preference.

“To be honest, I think this movement is counteractive.  I understand the symbolism and motivation, but many members of the LGBT+ community are already silenced due to shyness and/or harassment,” said Mikayla Beeson, freshman.  “I think that the encouragement to speak out for those who feel they can’t would be more productive and effective.”

The goal of the Day of Silence movement is to not only bring awareness to the bullying of those in the LGBT+ community but also encourage schools to provide solutions to address the problem.  One such way is to offer a safe place for students to go where they can feel accepted for who they are.

“As a gay teenager in high school, we never had anything, so as the adviser of QSA, I want to provide a safe place — a place where these students will feel accepted,” said Jason Hunning, adviser.

Since the first Day of Silence, hundreds of thousands of students in middle school, high school and college across the United States have participated in this movement.  Although students have the right to take part in the Day of Silence and public schools legally have to respect their right to free speech, the first amendment does not extend to classroom time.  Many teachers will respect the movement, but if a student is asked a question directly, the movement might not cover as a satisfying excuse, according to the GLESN website.

“We hope that through this movement we will raise enough awareness to gain better treatment in general,” said Beeson.  “At this point, people are well aware of the problem, but they don’t do anything about it.”

The Day of Silence especially encourages schools to be able to recognize incidents of name-calling and bullying towards students regarding not only sexual orientation and gender expression, but also race, gender and religion.  Slurs and derogatory terms are common in all schools and the Day of Silence exists to bring attention of this type of harassment.

“We want people to be aware of their surroundings and not to judge.  You may not agree, but you don’t have to be hateful,” said Will Hansen, senior.

At Athens Drive, the QSA meets every Wednesday at B lunch in room 2900.  The alliance includes both “queer” students and “straight” students.  It is a club founded on acceptance and equality.  The QSA welcomes anyone, especially those in need of a safe place.

“Equality needs to be our most important message,” said Hunning.  “No matter your sexual orientation, we all have the same human rights.  We are people too, and we have as much of the right to be here as everyone else.”