On Friday, 4/27, students across the country will be taking a vow of silence in honor of GLSEN’s stand against the erasure of LGBTQA+ students in school. The event honors those who have been neglected because of their sexualities and genders inside of school. Across the nation, 9 out of 10 LGBTQA+ students experience verbal harassment, with many staying home because they feel uncomfortable or unsafe in their schools.

The GLSEN Day of Silence was started in 1996 by a group of students at the University of Virginia while learning about non-violent protests. Since its creation, the Day of Silence has been a form of peaceful protest, fighting for more inclusive schools. By 2001, GLSEN,  an organization dedicated to making life easier for LGBTQA+ youth, both inside of school and out, became the official sponsor of the Day of Silence.

Coronado is luckily a very accepting community of students and teachers alike. Acceptance and visibility are some of the highest hopes of those in the LGBTQA+ community. To show your support, here are just a few things that you can do for the Day of Silence!

• Write your own, or generate a letter to Coronado’s administration to include more LGBTQA+ support school wide, and encourage those who run the administration to join the Day of Silence too!
• You can show your participation through clothing, pins, and temporary tattoos! However, tape is not allowed to be on your mouth for the school day. Everything listed is available On GLSEN’s Day of Silence Webpage.
• Using the same webpage, you can register to get the latest news on Day of Silence resources and LGBTQA+ friendly documents that are perfect for LGBTQA+ communities.
• Join Coronado’s GSTA! The club meets after school on tuesdays in room 214, from 3 to 4 P.M. The club is made for acceptance and visibility, feel free to stop by!

The Day of Silence is meant to support those who have experienced erasure throughout their school careers. Students, educators, and everyone else deserve to feel safe, respected, and visible in a community that they spend so much time in. The Day of Silence is a peaceful, respectable way to show your support of those who may not be shown acceptance.