While some students struggle to stay silent for a 90 minute class period, on April 19 another group of students plans to avoid speaking for an entire school day.

On the Day of Silence, students across the country decide to experience a school day silently. The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) facilitates this event annually, inviting members of the student body to participate.

According to GSA sponsor William Horine, the Day of Silence is a way for students to recognize the silent suffering that has affected members of the LGBT community. He said that the Day of Silence began over twenty years ago and slowly spread nationally. Every year, the event occurs in schools across the country.

GSA president Aiden Baker sees the Day of Silence as an experience that allows students to put themselves in the shoes of an LGBT student. Baker said that students who buy and wear a Day of Silence shirt commit to avoiding speech for the day.  She estimates that last year the GSA sold close to 200 shirts.

Horine said that students can also choose to support the day without participation. He said that the GSA sells stickers that project an alliance status.

“Allies are important to the cause,” said Horine. “That’s why we are the Gay-Straight Alliance… students want to be allies because they believe in the rights of gay students or they simply have friends that they want to support.”

Baker said that the Day of Silence has made GBN more aware of the struggles that LGBT student face. She thinks that those who do not participate are still impacted by the event through increased awareness and seem to have become increasingly accepting.

Similarly, Horine said that the student body seems to have become increasingly supportive of the Day of Silence during his time at GBN. However, he thinks that the Day of Silence is an important reminder that gay rights are still a relevant issue for students.

Junior Julia Braude participated in the Day of Silence last year. She found the experience “eye-opening” and observed that most of her peers were supportive.

“The Day of Silence teaches people that gay rights are more than what people say it is,” Braude said.

“When people take a stance and show that they really care, people are looking in on it and they’re thinking [about LGBT rights] also.”

Baker thinks that the Day of Silence is an effective way to explain the struggles of members of the LGBT community to students who know less about the issue. She thinks when students realize their peers are spending a day silently, they want to know why. Baker also said that participation provides an opportunity to reflect on the daily experience of an LGBT student.

“[The Day of Silence] makes people more aware of the struggle that kids who are closeted have to go through,” said Baker. “It makes people more aware that the issues affect people here at GBN and that we have to be more respectful and careful.”