The Most Effective Form of Communication on April 18— Silence

By: Michael R. Komo

On Wednesday, April 18, students in every grade participated in the National Day of Silence at McDowell High School. This year, over 300 students in grades nine through 12 took a vow of silence.

The Day of Silence is a student-led day of action where people who support making anti-LGBT bias unacceptable in school are silent for a day. Participants include LGBT students and their supporters.

The Gay-Straight Alliance at school organized the event, like it does every year. I am the President but could not have set everything up by myself. I had the help of my co-officers in order to make the day as successful as we could. Last year, there were just over 250 participants. This year, there were over 300 participants. I achieved my goal for participation for the event this year. Although I will not be at McDowell next year, nor will I be presiding over the GSA, I set the goal at 350 students for the 2008 Day of Silence.

I am confident in the support of our students. There is no doubt in my mind that the number of supporters will grow each year. Discrimination against LGBT people is becoming more unacceptable everyday. People are not sitting by and letting it happen. They are taking action to help ensure that one day it will cease to exist.