Shut up for a good cause

Starting tomorrow, you will see students handing out T-shirts at locations across the IU campus, perhaps a noticeable (free clothes) but not exactly an infrequent occurrence.

On Thursday, you might encounter surprising responses from this particular set of T-shirt-wearing Hoosiers. They’ll be participating in the National Day of Silence, an event held across the country every April to draw attention to the daily silence of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth who are afraid to fully express themselves.

The day of silence provides a meaningful and non-traditional way of experiencing the discomfort and entrapment of restraining one’s speech. The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network’s 2005 National School Climate Survey found that “four out of five LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and 29 percent report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety.”

The experience of silencing oneself can be a powerful source of motivation to work for the policy and cultural changes desperately needed to reverse those striking statistics.

The Day of Silence is a unique form of activism. It is not a rally nor a sit-in, fundraiser, film-screening or other event. There is an agenda solely of recognition and empathy, not of win-or-lose policy goals. It draws attention inward to the internal conflict that arises whenever humans want to speak out but cannot do so. There is value in experiencing this alone, even if it’s the only form of “activism” you do on the issue of GLBT rights, or at all.

The Day Of Silence also provides the perfect occasion to take action since anyone can participate without needing to be educated on the movement’s history or be knowledgeable about policy options. It’s an opportunity to feel and shut up rather than to analyze and incessantly debate.

To participate at IU, pick up a T-shirt and a silence pledge card tomorrow from tables at Woodburn Hall, the Sample Gates, the Kelley School of Business, Willkie, Wright, Collins, McNutt or the GLBT Student Support Services office on Seventh Street.

Then, participants will wear their T-shirts on the following day (April 15) and refrain from speaking. Students will also be given a card that explains why they are silent for the day.

On Thursday night, there will be a “Breaking the Silence” reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Oak Room of the Indiana Memorial Union. Help out your silent student friends tomorrow with respect and understanding. Spread that respect and understanding beyond the Day Of Silence, and their choice to shut up will have done much more than foster their own inner awareness.

Silence is another form of shouting this week, and whether you participate or not, be certain to listen for a quieter form of crying out for acceptance.

It might turn out to be just as powerful as the endless stream of speech and debate encouraging society to embrace difference.


E-mail: swilensk@indiana.edu