IU filled with supporting sounds of silence

They walked silently. \nThe swish of a pair of corduroys and shoes striking the pavement rang out amid the silence. As the procession made its way down Third Street, drivers pressed their brakes and craned their necks in order to get a better look. At the front of the procession students carried a large banner reading, "Day of Silence."\nApproximately 40 IU students took part in the National Day of Silence Wednesday in order to draw attention to the ways American society silences gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. \nStudents took a vow to remain silent throughout the day. The march began at 4:15 p.m. at Showalter Fountain and made its way down Jordan Avenue to Indiana Avenue.\n"People expect loud raucous marches," senior Ronnie Houchin said. "By being silent it draws even more attention to the silence that we experience." \nAt the bus stop in front of Jordan Hall on Third Street, two male students took a break from their conversation on power point presentations to watch as the procession passed by. Farther down the street, a woman gave the group a thumbs up after reading their signs, which carried slogans such as "Unite against silence. Speak up." and "Equal rights are not special rights." \nOne marcher tied the ends of a rainbow flag around her neck to create a cape. Another protected herself from the sun's UV rays with a rainbow umbrella. \nThe march ended at the Sample Gates, and Houchin told the group through a bull horn to break the silence. "Be loud," he said. \nAfter a moment's hesitation, the group erupted in shouting and the dull thuds of inflatable noise makers being beaten together.\nThis was junior Elizabeth Ladd's third time taking part in the Day of Silence. She said the day provided her the opportunity to relate literally to ways people are silenced.\n"It's introspective in ways you wouldn't imagine," Ladd said. "In this heterosexist society we live in, it's hard for me as a straight girl to directly relate to GLBT people. National Day of Silence gives me a chance to stand in their shoes for a day."\nSenior Ryan Robison said the march had grown from prior years. \n"My sophomore year, it was just a handful of people," he said. \nRobison said growing up he never saw gay characters on television. The first time he saw two men kissing on television, Robison rewound the tape and watched it over and over again. He said demonstrations like the Day of Silence help gay people in situations similar to his, by letting them know that they are not alone.\n"It sends a message to them." Robison said. "I like who I am because of who I am, and it's OK to like who you are because of who you are."\nHouchin said he believes American society silences GLBT people in numerous ways. \n"Being silenced is as simple as turning on the television without being able to see a gay character," he said. "Being silenced is as simple as not being able to walk down the street holding hands with someone you love for fear of being harassed."\n"I think it's important to get out there and show some solidarity," Houchin said. "We all came together -- gay, straight, trans, bi -- to show we care about these issues." \nCoordinator of the Office of GLBT Support Services Doug Bauder told the group it was important to remember we can all be silencers. Bauder used the metaphor of a gun silencer to demonstrate the damaging effects of silencing others' voices. \n"If we want allies, we need to be there for other people, too," he said. \nIU's Day of Silence was organized by the Day of Silence Committee and received support from more than 20 organizations.\nLadd said visibility is important to bring attention to GLBT issues. \n"The louder the silence, the bigger the message," she said. \n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Wells at djwells@indiana.edu.