Get ready for the hallways in Central Ohio high schools to be a little quieter. Kaleidoscope Youth Center is working in partnership with area GSA’s to observe the Day of Silence.
On April 17, students in local schools will join young people across the nation in protesting the discrimination, harassment and abuse—in effect the silencing—faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students and their allies in schools nationwide. A Speak-Out and screening of the film “Milk” will take place at Kaleidoscope Youth Center beginning at 5pm that evening.
GLSEN’s 2005 National School Climate Survey found that four out of five LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and 29% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety. The Day of Silence is one way students and their allies are making anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and name-calling unacceptable in America’s schools.
Youth from approximately 20 Central Ohio schools are organizing “silent” activities, wearing stickers and passing out ‘speaking cards’ that read:
"Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the
Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?"
“It is a day for us to be heard without being heard", comments Lee H., Youth Advisory Board member at Kaleidoscope Youth Center and Vice-President of the CAHS GSA. “This is really important to me,” Lee said. “I’ve always been pretty out there about who I am, but I know a lot of other people who don’t feel like they can be honest about who they are. Letting those who can’t talk know that they are okay, and harassment is NOT okay is incredibly important.”
The evening’s "Breaking the Silence" event at Kaleidoscope Youth Center will offer an opportunity for activists to reflect on their day and Speak Out about their experiences as LGBT youth. The free event is open to all youth aged 20 and under will include food, discussion, music and spoken word performances about topics ranging from LGBT identity issues to violence against women. Following the Speak-Out, there will be a screening of the film “Milk.”
For more information or directions call us at (614) 294-5437 or click on the “Contact Us” link on our website, www.KYCohio.org.
The mission of Kaleidoscope Youth Center is to work in partnership with young people in Central Ohio to create safe and empowering environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth through education, advocacy and support.
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