My Day of Silence 2015

Happy Tuesday everyone,

On April 17th I had the pleasure of participating in this year's national youth movement Day of Silence. I first heard of this phenomena last year when a girl that sat at my table in math had a card saying she couldn't speak (and sorry for the inconvenience) and later in the day I saw students with signs around their necks. I didn't really understand what it was until it was again brought to my attention the Wednesday prior to the event when I met with my GSA / Equality club. Before then I didn't know that this Day of Silence was to and I quote nay I paraphrase with quotations around it "Bring attention to the silence faced by LGBT people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence . . . " The rest can be read on the picture I am hopefully [putting somewhere in hear if possible of the sign I wore around my neck.

The experience was pretty positive to my surprise. It apparently fell upon a good day because none of my teachers really needed me to speak so as far as academics that went as usual. Socializing with friends though was a little different. Luckily a lot of my friends are in my school's American Sign Language class with me so we got to practice some signing and finger-spelling. I also did a lot of miming and charades and after I got frustrated with friends who couldn't tell the difference between "We painted in Art" and "Something about spanking." I did some writing. I actually found these conversations (when they weren't frustrating) more personal. People had to really pay attention to understand me. it felt more personal. Like the difference between texting and calling.

I was also surprised that at least one student in every class had a sign around their necks or taped to their chests. The numbers I observed participating this year was double last year. And I think there will be even more next year.

I managed to stay silent most of the day which is insane if you know me even a little. I slipped a couple words here and there because I forgot and when I finally got home I drove around with my mom for only the third time I believe and I didn't want to get us killed so I did some vocalizing.

This movement isn't just important to me because I'm in the LGBTQIA+ community. I stood up for Gay rights even before I "found myself". And I don't think this is just a "gay thing". People forget when we say equality that it doesn't just mean sexuality. It means race, religion, gender the list goes on forever. The Day of Silence can easily stand for the silence of other people who for any reason find themselves oppressed. People are still racist in the world. people are still sexist in the world. people are still oppressed. And I would have tied this sign around my neck for any of those people who struggle for equality.

This quote is written on the back of my Equality Club T-Shirt
"Equality comes from treating EVERYBODY with the same respect regardless of who they are."
"Everybody" on the shirt isn't that big, bold or underlined but I'm dramatic if you couldn't tell.

This is what the sign we wore around our necks looks like


For more info on DOS check out these sites:

Day of Silence 2015

Day of Silence Official





Until next time,
Totally Ky