Today students at Putnam Valley High School who chose to participate observed the national Day of Silence, an annual event in which students elect not to speak for an entire school day in order to highlight the silence that many lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT) students have to keep in order to avoid being harassed, or worse, at school.

According to the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which sponsors it, the goal of the Day of Silence is to make schools safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/ expression. In a Harris Interactive study on bullying, students said two of the top three reasons students are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression. Additionally, 4 out of 5 LGBT students experience harassment at school.

Students across the country participate in the Day of Silence to bring attention to this problem, let students who experience such bullying know that they are not alone and ask schools to take action to address the problem. The GSA/VOICES club at PVHS is sponsoring the activity, which will take place on April 18, one week before the national Day of Silence which this year falls during the spring holiday recess in PV.

According to school psychologist and GSA/VOICES advisor, Jason Kane, “this year, we have about 40 active participants, most of whom will be keeping silent for the entire school day. The silent students will have information cards to hand out as they walk around explaining their silence. We will also have a few ‘allies’ who will not be silent but helping out throughout the day. We will have a wall of support so people can write down their thoughts, ideas, feelings or general support for the day. Red DOS t-shirts will be handed out the day before the observance.  Some teachers have also purchased shirts to help support the cause.”
Every year, more and more students participate in the Day of Silence, which began 12 years ago when University of Virginia students wanted to find a way to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment on campus. For more information, visit www.dayofsilence.org    (619)