GLSEN’s Day of Silence is April 27th! Here are 10 ways educators can get involved in the largest, student-led action against anti-LGBTQ bullying and erasure in schools.
1.
Use the Educator Guide for the Day of Silence for lesson ideas before, during, and after the Day of Silence.
2.
Pause your teaching to join GLSEN for the national moment of silence and solidarity for 3 minutes at 3 pm ET/2 pm CT/1 pm PT.
3.
Structure your lessons with silent writing: ask students to reflect on their identities and experiences in terms of race, ability, sexuality, and relationships both in and out of school.
4.
Make sure that any students facing pushback for organizing a Day of Silence in your school know they can contact Lambda Legal directly for support.
5.
Set up a Day of Silence table in your school lobby or hallway, and invite students to give away Day of Silence stickers, buttons, and info cards.
6.
Organize a Breaking the Silence assembly, rally, or open mic. Breaking the Silence is an important action on the Day of Silence. Prepare with your students beforehand how they want to take action and advocate for LGBTQ people at their school.
7.
Encourage your students to download the unselfie sign, share and tweet their answers about how they are ending the silence to @GLSEN on Twitter and @glsenofficial on Instagram.
8.
Use our Letter Writing Generator to create a custom letter for administrators, superintendents, or other school leaders urging them to implement institutional supports for LGBTQ students.
9.
Preview and then host a screening of one of the films from the Youth and Gender Media Project, which is offering free streaming to Day of Silence registrants for the last two weeks in April.
10.
See our Ways to Participate in the Day of Silence resource for more ideas!
Thanks for being a supportive educator and helping to make your school more LGBTQ visible and affirming!