At the LGBA meeting on March 5, the membership decided to participate in the National Day of Silence, Wednesday, April 9, 1997. On the Day of Silence, LGBT youth and their supporters take a vow of silence from 8am-5pm to raise awareness of the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people everywhere.
Participants hand out business-size cards instead of speaking.
This will be the first time this event will be observed on a national level. The Day of Silence was first held at the University of Virginia in April 1996. The success of the Day of Silence in the UVA community inspired Jessie Gilliam and Maria Pulzetti to create a national event. The Day of Silence brings together students of all sexual orientations who take a stand against discrimination and silencing. The uniqueness of the event inspires crucial discussion about what can be done to end that practice.