[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 4241]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             DAY OF SILENCE

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, students have fallen silent in schools 
all across the country today to bring attention to the discrimination 
and harassment of our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, GLBT, 
youth.
  The voices that won't be heard today belong to the participants of a 
national project called the Day of Silence.
  The Day of Silence was conceived more than 6 years ago by Maria 
Pulzetti, then a student at the University of Virginia, after she wrote 
a paper on nonviolent protest and grassroots organizing. It encourages 
students to take a nine-hour pledge of silence to represent the silence 
that GLBT students face because of harassment, discrimination and 
prejudice at their schools.
  Since the first-ever Day of Silence at the University of Virginia in 
1996, the event has grown in size each year. This year, thousands of 
students will be participating from more than 1,776 middle schools, 
high schools, colleges and universities in 49 States, Puerto Rico and 
the District of Columbia, including at least 136 schools in my State of 
California. This year's effort will easily be the largest in its 
history.
  Instead of speaking, participants of the Day of Silence will hand out 
cards that explain why they have chosen not to talk. The cards read:

       Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am 
     participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth 
     movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, 
     bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My 
     deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by 
     harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that 
     ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these 
     injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. 
     What are you going to do to end the silence?

  Some participants will also be wearing t-shirts that spell out why 
they have chosen not to speak today. Others will wear buttons or 
stickers. And still others will offer ribbons to those who are not 
ready to take a vow of complete silence but who want to show their 
support.
  In some cases, teachers will even join the effort by taping their 
lessons for the day, screening movies, or writing on the blackboard 
instead of speaking to their classes.
  In fact, students who have organized the event in the past say that 
the broad participation of their friends and teachers has elevated the 
Day of Silence from ``a bunch of gay kids complaining about 
discrimination'' to a formidable student-led movement for civil rights.
  But, regardless of which participant you ask, they all agree that 
they can speak loudest by not saying a word. And, even though they will 
be silent, their message will get across loud and clear.
  I would also like to give special recognition to two California 
students that have helped organize this year's Day of Silence:
  Sumiko Braun, 17, of Carson, CA, is the California State Organizer. 
She is currently a senior at the California Academy of Mathematics and 
Science, and is also the founder and president of her school's Gay-
Straight Alliance. Although the Gay-Straight Alliance has faced much 
adversity, the group has remained one of the most active on the 
school's campus.
  Nikira Hernandez, 15, of Santa Cruz, CA, is one of the National Team 
Co-Advisors. She currently attends Santa Cruz High School, and is a 
member of her school's Rainbow Alliance. Before organizing Santa Cruz 
High School's first Day of Silence last spring, Nikira said her 
school's Rainbow Alliance counted about half a dozen students as 
members--and they weren't very motivated. Then, when more than 200 
people fell silent on their behalf last year, she couldn't believe how 
much her life changed. She said, ``Seeing how many allies we had made 
me feel much more accepted at my school.''
  I am encouraged that these two talented and dedicated young ladies 
have taken the initiative to help end the silence of GLBT students 
that, unfortunately, has become the norm in our Nation's schools. These 
outstanding Californians are not only giving support to other young 
people who are participating in the Day of Silence effort, they are 
helping to make their schools and their communities more accepting in 
the process.
  The effects of today's silence will last much longer than just one 
day. This experience will offer students an opportunity to think about 
how powerful silencing can be and to focus on how they can make their 
own voices stronger.
  Long after this day has ended, I hope students will continue to speak 
out against discrimination and harassment so that everyone can feel 
accepted at their schools, and we can overcome the forces that impose 
silence on our youth.

                          ____________________