User blog:Nathan.Wong/Day of Silence 4/25/14

Hi there! Happy Friday all!

Today is national Day of Silence which brings attention to anti LGBT name-calling, harrassment, and bullying in schools. Students from junior high-school to college are taking part in this event today. Here are a few things about this event.

What is GLESN?
GLESN is the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. This non-profit oragnization is focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information visit www.glsen.org

Should I register?
In order to promote the Day of Silence’s positive impact we need to know how many people participate. Many critics wish to downplay the number of people who support addressing the problem of anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment but by registering, you are helping us prove this that is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Register here and be counted!

Why do we need a day of silence?
GLSEN’s 2009 National School Climate Survey found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. Moreover, two of the top three reasons students said their peers were most often bullied at school were actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression, according to From Teasing to Torment: School Climate in America, a 2005 report by GLSEN and Harris Interactive. Thus, the Day of Silence helps bring us closer to making anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and name-calling unacceptable in America’s schools.

Do I have the right to participate?
You DO have a right to participate in Day of Silence and other expressions of your opinion at a public school during non-instructional time: the breaks between classes, before and after the school day, lunchtime, and any other free times during your day. You do NOT have a right to remain silent during class time if a teacher asks you to speak. We recommend that you talk to your teachers ahead of time, tell them what you plan to do, and ask them if it would be okay for you to communicate on that day in writing. (ACLU)

If you have any questions, comments, feedback, please leave a comment here or message me on my wall.