Day of Silence is today April 17, 2009. Students from middle schools to colleges throughout the nation choose to take some form of a vow of silence, such as not speaking between classes, in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior. The event is designed to illustrate the silencing effect of this bullying and harassment on LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT.
The goal of the Day of Silence is to make schools safer for all students, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. In a Harris Interactive study on bullying, students said two of the top three reasons students are harassed in school are actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression. Additionally, nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment at school.
Critics say that the schools should not allow what they see is an immoral demonstration. And yeah! Hutcherson is in the news once again.