April 25, 2008
A once normal day now marks 12 years of protest. The National Day of Silence, started in 1996 by Maria Pulzetti, is a movement to help ‘end the silence’ that the GLBT community has to endure each and everyday.

This year has been dedicated in memory of 15-year-old Lawrence King who was allegedly murdered on the sole basis of his sexual identity.

The student who killed Lawrence was fellow classmate, Brandon McInerney, who shot Lawrence twice in the head as he sat at his computer in school. The Day of Silence was observed by a record breaking 8,500 middle and high school students, according to GLSEN.

Students worldwide took part in the movement by carrying cards which read

“Silent for Lawrence King. Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence (DOS), a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by anti-LGBT bullying, name-calling and harassment. This year’s DOS is held in memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student who was killed in school because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward building awareness and making a commitment to address these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today.”

Although the message carries a positive persona, certain groups such as the American Family Association [AFA] and the Westboro Baptist Church insist on going against the silent protest. The group urged parents to keep their child at home if the school was to observe the Day of Silence – which we would love to point out had no control over none of it.

We still have high hopes for the success of this movement as it continues to grow. Let’s hope that no other family has to endure the pain that the King family had to go through. What are you going to do to end the silence?

In remembrance of
Lawrence King
January 13, 1993 – February 12, 2008
“…Lost too soon…”