Spectrum, Elon’s queer straight alliance, invites the campus community to participate in the national Day of Silence on Friday, April 20, as part of our 2012 Pride Week (April 16-21). The Day of Silence is an annual event when high school and college students across the United States take a vow of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQIA) bullying and harassment in schools.
Research from Campus Pride’s 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBTQIA People shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer college students and faculty experience significantly higher rates of harassment and discrimination than their straight counterparts. Transgender and gender nonconforming students and faculty report even higher rates of harassment and discrimination, as do LGBTQIA people of color.
These statistics are reflected in the experience of LGBTQIA people at Elon, in big and small ways. Spectrum recognizes that LGBTQIA people, children of LGBTQIA parents, straight allies and parents of LGBTQIA children are silenced on our campus in a variety of ways. Some of us are silenced by the day-to-day experience of living in the closet, while others of us are silenced in classrooms, dorm rooms and other spaces as a result of prejudiced comments and behavior.
Join us April 20 to call attention to this silencing and continue dialogue on our campus. Email spectrum@elon.edu to request stickers and “speaking” cards that explain the purpose of DoS. If you are unable to take a vow of silence for whatever reason, we invite you to show your support with a sticker. All participants and allies are invited to break the silence with Spectrum Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. in front of Moseley Center, and a cookout will follow. Please find us on Facebook or email spectrum@elon.edu for more information.
Thank you, Spectrum