Imagine going through a whole day without talking— no greetings, no small talk, not a single word. That’s what a handful of students did on April 11th as a way to honor all of the people who have been silenced because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. This was part of a national day of advocacy called the Day of Silence.
The Day of Silence began back in 1996, when Maria Pulzzetti, a student at the University of Virginia, noticed how often LGBTQIA+ youth were being ignored by parents, teachers, and adults in general. Their voices were pushed aside, and their struggles were rarely taken seriously.
Since its start, the Day of Silence has grown into a national event, with thousands of students across the U.S. participating each year. Students stay silent during the school day to represent all the voices that have been erased or dismissed. It’s a simple, yet incredibly powerful way to stand in solidarity and raise awareness about how often LGBTQIA+ individuals are silenced in everyday life.
At Grier, students have been participating in this event for years, standing in support of those whose voices have been pushed aside. Senior CJ Wagner was especially committed to joining this year’s Day of Silence. “LGBTQIA+ people still experience prejudice and bullying in their day-to-day lives, even if it is declining somewhat,” they explained. Participating in the Day of Silence gave them a way to show support for their friends and classmates in the LGBTQIA+ community. They shared that even though it was tough at first, it made them realize just how many people go through life feeling unheard.
While staying quiet might sound easy, students had to stay fully committed to the meaning behind it. It’s not just about being silent; it’s about reflecting on the reasons you’re doing it, and the statement your silence is making. However, it can be extremely challenging not to use your voice for the whole day. “Force of habit makes it very difficult to not reply when asked a question,” CJ said, “and sometimes there are things that you want to communicate that cannot be expressed with just body language.”
The participants ended the day by coming together in the gym to break their silence in an uninhibited scream and then discussed how they felt after participating in this form of advocacy. The Day of Silence isn’t just an individual thing; there’s something powerful about knowing the people around you are taking the same stand, even without a single word being spoken. CJ added, “It is a representation of how important it is to let everyone’s voices be heard, because it can be very easy for someone to be silent in the background.”
