Glsen.Org/Dayofsilence

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@GLSENofficial GLSEN.tumblr.com glsen.org/dayofsilence RECLAIMING A GENERATION THE OFFICIAL “BREAKING THE SILENCE” PLAYLIST By Keress Ambrose Aprilus Frey (7, they/them) By GLSEN’s National Student Council

If children are the future then Angel Haze Same - Love Remix surely Ben E King - Stand By Me We must never let them be raised Beyonce - Freedom In silence Beyonce - Run The World (Girls) Cher - Pride But if silence were fists, then surely Coldplay - Viva La Vida We must raise them Daya - Sit Still Look Pretty Unabashed like sons, daughters, Hayley Kiyoko - Sleepover children of all colors-- Hayley Kiyoko - Girls Like Girls Frank Ocean - Chanel Let silence no longer be a weapon, Katy Perry - Roar but a shield Lady Gaga - Born This Way A moment of silence to mourn Madonna - Vogue what was lost, Priory - Put ‘Em Up A day of silence to reclaim what is Rihanna - We Found Love ours. Cher - Believe Sia - The Greatest Steve Grand - We Are The Night

“GLSEN’s Day of Silence is a student-led national event organized in thousands TLC - No Scrubs TLC - Waterfalls of schools, bringing awareness to the silencing effects of anti-LGBTQ name- Troye Sivan - Youth calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students from middle school to The Replacements - Androgynous college take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates Rupaul - Champion to address the problem of anti-LGBTQ behavior by illustrating the silencing Years & Year - Desire effect of bullying and harassment on LGBTQ students and those perceived to be Frank Ocean - Pink + White LGBTQ.” -GLSEN

This Zine has been compiled by GLSEN’s 2016-2017 National Student Council to provide a resource for teachers, students and GSA’s all across the nation.

“I want to recommend that we use the phrase “Silence Is Ours” as the primary slogan of Day of Silence, with the overall theme emphasizing the reclaiming of silence as a tool for advocacy, rather than a means of oppression.” -Gabby Rivera, GLSEN Youth Programs Manager. 1 6 A PERSONAL ESSAY ON SILENCE A PERSONAL ESSAY ON SILENCE By Rebekah R. 18, she/her

Silence is arguably the most powerful tool that people can wield. to learn grows. Empathy is the ability to understand the experiences of Like a sword, it slices through the constant, everyday chatter. others. Day of Silence allows one to listen to others and contemplate Silence offers a moment for people to reflect and ponder. In our how their perspective differs from one’s own. Additionally, Day of everyday world, consistent chatter is the norm. People are constantly Silence serves as a catalyst for learning through examining any sort of connected through social media, and we are often forced into social discomfort experienced during the day. situations where communication is expected. In this way, remaining silent serves as an act of civil disobedience. Wielding the power of After Day of Silence, one can find oneself asking where are voices that silence forces people to consider why certain voices are missing at are missing from their daily conversations. Silence can be an effective the table. It forces people outside of their norm and sometimes into tool to bridge understanding, build on empathy, and acknowledge a state of discomfort. This place of discomfort is often the most those silenced every day. Some associate silence with passivity, but if effec¬tive place for people to learn. Students should participate in one truly embraces the silence and wields it in a powerfully disruptive Day of Silence as a way to protest the systems in place that silence so way, so much more can happen when we take control and reclaim our many, to experience a day of reflection and empathy for those that are silence. silenced every day, and to lean into discomfort to discover something new about themselves and the world they live in.

Many people every day are silenced, and because one can never fully under-stand what it means to that person, those that are silenced often go overlooked. LG¬BTQ students can feel silenced in classrooms and schools where there is not a GSA, policies condemning bullying and harassment, and supportive faculty and students. Additionally, many students have been silenced due to the change in the political cli¬mate. Taking time on Day of Silence to recognize those for whom silence is a reality every day is an excellent way to show solidarity.

Day of Silence also serves as a day of reflection. Because we are constantly bombarded with stimuli throughout the day, silence can be a great way to reflect on what’s happening all around and even within. When one truly engages in the act of listening, the capability

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community. You will make it through it and have your voice heard. voice your have and it through it make will You community. 2 5

making your school safe for you. Rise together as a school and a a and school a as together Rise you. for safe school your making

helpful advice all year long! year all advice helpful are not alone. Everyone participating in Day of Silence cares about about cares Silence of Day in participating Everyone alone. not are

student issues student . Register your school’s GSA at glsen.org to get get to glsen.org at GSA school’s your Register . If you are being bullied and harassed, please remember that you you that remember please harassed, and bullied being are you If

Use the momentum from Day of Silence to stay involved in LGBTQ LGBTQ in involved stay to Silence of Day from momentum the Use 10.

am advocating on the national level to make a difference in the world. the in difference a make to level national the on advocating am advisors. You can find it at glsen.org/dayofsilence. at it find can You advisors.

hopeless. But, here I am now. It is almost exactly a year later, and I I and later, year a exactly almost is It now. am I here But, hopeless. Share the Day of Silence Educator Guide Educator Silence of Day the Share 9. with your teachers and GSA GSA and teachers your with

who can’t protect themselves. I was once in that situation; I was was I situation; that in once was I themselves. protect can’t who

Other shirts are available for purchase at glsen.org/shop. at purchase for available are shirts Other

my voice heard. I will stand up against bullying and protect those those protect and bullying against up stand will I heard. voice my

create custom ones for your school or GSA at glsen.org/dosshirts! glsen.org/dosshirts! at GSA or school your for ones custom create

Now that I am out of that situation, I will stop at nothing to make make to nothing at stop will I situation, that of out am I that Now

Make Day of Silence shirts! Silence of Day Make 8. You can make them on your own, or or own, your on them make can You

schools. schools.

school, I wouldn’t know I had that support. that had I know wouldn’t I school,

advocacy actions dedicated to the wellbeing of LGBTQ youth in in youth LGBTQ of wellbeing the to dedicated actions advocacy

Gender and Sexuality Alliance, and the numerous allies within my my within allies numerous the and Alliance, Sexuality and Gender

harassment. Without the Day of Silence, the members of my school’s school’s my of members the Silence, of Day the Without harassment.

announcement over the PA system to get others involved! others get to system PA the over announcement

were willing to stand up for me when I experienced anti-LGBTQ anti-LGBTQ experienced I when me for up stand to willing were

distributing flyers, setting up a table at lunch, or even making an an making even or lunch, at table a up setting flyers, distributing

me feel less alone. It assured me that people within my school school my within people that me assured It alone. less feel me

Day of Silence at your school your at Silence of Day Promote 6. by hanging up posters, posters, up hanging by

Seeing people at my school participate in Day of Silence made made Silence of Day in participate school my at people Seeing

rally.

Partner with a local GLSEN Chapter GLSEN local a with Partner 5. to host a Breaking the Silence Silence the Breaking a host to

voice, and eventually I stopped feeling like I had one at all. at one had I like feeling stopped I eventually and voice,

glsen.org/dayofsilence. scared, and I didn’t know what to do. No one was listening to my my to listening was one No do. to what know didn’t I and scared,

contact Lambda Legal, and they may be able to help! More info at at info More help! to able be may they and Legal, Lambda contact My freshman year of high school, I felt silenced. I was bullied and and bullied was I silenced. felt I school, high of year freshman My

right not to speak. If you feel your rights are being violated, violated, being are rights your feel you If speak. to not right

Remember you have a right to free speech free to right a have you Remember 4. , and that includes the the includes that and , to the voices that aren’t. that voices the to

or a little after-school meeting to make some joyous noise. joyous some make to meeting after-school little a or you are not only making your voice heard, but also bringing attention attention bringing also but heard, voice your making only not are you

Plan something to break the silence the break to something Plan 3. , whether it’s a dance, a picnic, picnic, a dance, a it’s whether , unsafe and unable to speak up. But by participating in Day of Silence, Silence, of Day in participating by But up. speak to unable and unsafe

heard. Anti-LGBTQ harassment and bullying leaves students feeling feeling students leaves bullying and harassment Anti-LGBTQ heard. glsen.org/dayofsilence.

as an LGBTQ youth. It shows that we must always make our voices voices our make always must we that shows It youth. LGBTQ an as the course of the day why you’re being silent. You can find it at at it find can You silent. being you’re why day the of course the

This quote truly embodies the importance of Day of Silence for me me for Silence of Day of importance the embodies truly quote This statement to show to your teachers, friends, and coworkers over over coworkers and friends, teachers, your to show to statement

Change your phone lock screen lock phone your Change 2. to the official Day of Silence Silence of Day official the to “

Elie Wiesel Elie - yourself!

the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” the never tormentor, the encourages Silence victim. the

around your neck that visibly shows your support without hurting hurting without support your shows visibly that neck your around

We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never never oppressor, the helps Neutrality sides. take always must We

Don’t use duct tape to cover your mouth your cover to tape duct use Don’t 1. . Opt for a shirt or sign sign or shirt a for Opt .

By Kian T. (16, they/them, he/him) they/them, (16, T. Kian By she/her) (17, M. Madison and he/him) (18, C. Danny by By

TRUE LIFE: DAY OF SILENCE WOKE UP MY SCHOOL MY UP WOKE SILENCE OF DAY LIFE: TRUE TRICKS AND TIPS SILENCE OF DAY 10