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What are you going to do to end the silence?

Day Of Silence

Thursday, 24 April 2008

Fingers upon lips will take on a new meaning on Friday the 25th April as The National Day Of Silence commences. But why the hush? It’s an international campaign to bring to our attention the anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment taking place in our schools. This year’s event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a California eighth grader who was shot and killed on February 2nd 2008. Simply because he was gay. April 25th will see hundreds of thousands of students come together to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behaviour.

The Sussex University LGBT group will be taking part in the International Day Of Silence on the Sussex campus based just outside Brighton. All students taking part or supporting the event are being encouraged to wear black to show solidarity and highlight homophobia in education. Although originally an American idea Sussex University was touched by the campaign after visiting international students suggested the students take part as a way of demonstrating that outside of the liberal bubble of Brighton, the world is a very different place for LGBT people.

The silence will commence at 9am and end in a 'breaking the silence' ceremony at 5pm where the 60 odd students that are taking part will join in a united scream followed by a chance to each express how the day made them feel.

When blatant homophobia and the resulting effects it has on the lives of young people today is so obvious to see, this silence is something to shout about this spring. A day when silence can become a roar.

www.dayofsilence.org