Today is the Day of Silence, when many students from middle school to college choose not to speak, in order to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBTQ bullying and harassment. Let’s take a moment to honor those who are taking a stand today—and on so many other days as well.
Choosing to speak out, even through silence, can be daunting. GLSEN advises that middle and high school students in particular get support from the school administration before participating. Even with an administrative blessing, however, making oneself visible in support of a sometimes (and unfortunately) controversial issue like LGBTQ acceptance can be frightening. I have the greatest respect for all of the students, especially in the younger grades, who are participating in the Day of Silence regardless.
The latest National School Climate Survey from GLSEN found that “nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30 percent report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety.” This hostile climate can affect students’ academic success and mental health, but “students with LGBT-related resources and supports” not surprisingly report better experiences and success at school.
The good news is that things may be slowly changing. The number of LGBT students who reported having heard homophobic remarks regularly has dropped from over 80 percent in 2001 to about 60 percent in 2013 (the date of the GLSEN study). Let’s not forget, though, that bullying because of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity is only one facet of an intersecting range of reasons a child might be bullied. Overall, 22 percent of students ages 12 to 18 were bullied during the 2012-13 school year—but the youngest, in sixth grade, had the highest percentage (28), according to data collected at StopBullying.gov.
There’s no one solution. GLSEN and StopBullying.gov offer some ideas, as do Teaching Tolerance, Welcoming Schools, and PFLAG, among others. Ultimately, it’s going to take a combined effort of teachers, administrators, coaches, parents, and other caregivers, but it’s also going to take the students themselves, working towards a safe and welcoming climate in their schools—and in the world in which they are growing up. The Day of Silence gives me hope.