WHS community hears loud statement during Day of Silence

WHS community hears loud statement during Day of Silence

It was on May 1 and 2 that the students of Watertown High were making a loud statement; it was also one of their quietest as well.

On May 2, the Watertown High Gay Straight Alliance promoted the Day of Silence, an annual event held in middle schools, high schools, and colleges across the country. The Day of Silence honors the silence that many LGBT children suffer in their daily battle to survive  bullying and harassment. The effect of the Day of Silence is to promote awareness of the massive silencing that bullying can cause on the LGBT community.

On Thursday, May 1, the WHS GSA held a screen printing event during all three lunch periods. Students brought in their own shirts, or paid $2 for a new one, and had “Day of Silence” printed on their shirts to wear for the following day. Many students also wore other Day of Silence shirts from previous years, as well as purple, to support the LGBT cause.

Smalls slips of paper were handed out before the school day began, explaining what the Day of Silence was, as well as an explanation to teachers for the silence that many students would be participating in that day.

With the willingness that many students took to remain silent, for even part of the day, the Watertown High GSA hopes it can help the school environment become safer and more accepting for the LGBT community.

–May 4, 2014–