On Friday, April 21, Day of Silence will take place and Carlmont’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance is will help the rest of the student body participate.
The club presidents include senior Alyssa Feigelson and junior Eli Melmon, and the club has been working to promote this event.
Melmon said, “Day of Silence is a nationwide event organized by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) where students don’t speak for the school day to show support for LGBT students who are bullied in school. Many LGBT kids who are bullied are not in a safe enough situation where they can speak up about the harassment they’ve experienced; therefore, we join them in solidarity by not speaking.”
This year, the Carlmont Gender-Sexuality Alliance will be participating in this event by encouraging silence among all students.
“We will have name tags in the quad so people who participate are easily identified, and people can’t just say they are participating whenever they feel like it to get out of class,” said Feigelson.
Teachers are aware that some students will be choosing to stay silent for the entirety school day. However, teachers can ask students to speak and participate further in class. If a student is asked to speak by a teacher or faculty member, they are expected to cooperate.
After school, all students who participated in Day of Silence will meet in the quad and break their silence.
“We also have a debate beforehand about the values of keeping silent versus making your voice heard, and when it is [the appropriate] time for one or the other,” said Feigelson.
The Gender-Sexuality Alliance is also making a video to promote Day of Silence in order to spread the word and inform them know how to participate if they’re interested. The video will be shown in third-period classes.
Carreras said “
The Gender-Sexuality Alliance strives to be a safe place for people of all genders and sexualities.
Melmon said, “I joined GSA because I knew it was going to be a safe space to be 100 percent open, a place to talk about LGBT events, and a community where I would be supported no matter what.”
