National Day of Silence 2008

NO TALKING!

Today is the 2008 Day of Silence.

The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year’s event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Hundreds of thousands of students will come together on April 25 to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior.

Wisconsin's own U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin introduced a resolution to honor the National Day of Silence.

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin today called on colleagues in the House to recognize this year's National Day of Silence to be held on April 25th. The annual National Day of Silence is a day in which students take a vow of silence to bring attention to the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools, including students, teachers, and other school staff. The National Day of Silence is coordinated nationally by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). An estimated 500,000 students from nearly 5,000 junior and high schools in all 50 states and Puerto Rico have participated in the National Day of Silence in past years and more than 6,000 schools have registered this year.

In remarks on the House floor this morning, Congresswoman Baldwin told her colleagues, "This year's event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Larry's death is an unnecessary reminder of what we already know: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students continue to face pervasive harassment and victimization in schools. As students use their silence to demand schools are safe for all students, it is my hope that we in Congress will use our voices to ensure that it be so.

GLSEN reports startling statistics:

- More than 80 percent of LGBT students have been verbally harassed;

- Nearly 20 percent of LGBT students were physically assaulted by their peers at school because their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression;

- Almost 40 percent of LGBT students reported that faculty and staff never intervene when homophobic language is used in their presence;

- Nearly 30 percent of LGBT students reported missing at least one entire school day in the last month because they felt unsafe.

Reps. Baldwin (D-WI), Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Lois Capps (D-CA) have sponsored a resolution (H Con Res 328) supporting the goals and ideals of the National Day of Silence. Baldwin said Congressional support sends a strong signal that harassment and hate crimes will not be tolerated in our schools and in our communities.

Harassment of LGBT students is inexcusable.

Baldwin wants the Congress to send a strong signal that the harassment of these students will not be tolerated in our schools.

Hear, hear.

Too bad this day only focuses on LGBT students.

There should be a National Day of Silence for all kids who are bullied and harassed for reasons other than their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Who speaks for them?
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Check out the Day of Silence blog.