By Malena Araujo – Staff Reporter

Law’s Gay-Straight Alliance is hosting a Day of Silence on April 22 – the first Wednesday after spring vacation.

The goal of the Day of Silence is to bring awareness to and to memorialize victims of anti-LGBT bullying/harassment, homophobia, and transphobia. Students interested in participating must see GSA advisors Miss Kowalsick in Room 143 or Mr. Evanko in Room 193 for guidelines. A list of the participants will be sent out to the faculty.

“I think it’s very important that we address bullying in our school community especially those that are directed at gender and sexual minorities,” Evanko said.

The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network created the Day of Silence and the official date for it this year is April 17.

This is the first time in many years that Law has decided to partake in the Day of Silence. The day will be recreated on a school day to encourage all students to get involved.

“We feel the GSA should be active in the school,” Evanko said.

Some club members felt it was important to participate because they have seen an increase of reported harassment and suicide in the LGBT community and wanted to bring recognition to it.

“Though it’s been a serious problem for years, this year there seemed to be an increase of news coverage around violence and suicides involving LGBT people, especially transsexual people,” junior club member Casey McDonald said. “It just seemed like something that we needed to bring awareness to, since it’s so prevalent.”

Although there has been some coverage, some members feel that people don’t understand the severity of homophobia and transphobia because there is lack of representation in the media.

“People typically don’t hear about these sort of things,” senior club member Victoria Millican said. “I want people to know that there are people out there dealing with a lack of tolerance, who don’t feel safe in their own home just because they want to change their gender.”

Also, the Day of Silence represents the silencing of the LGBT community in today’s society.

“People seem to forget that we don’t have complete equality yet,” sophomore club member Simone Fletcher said. “We are still discriminated against and there are a lot of social restrictions placed upon us.”

Participants feel that the campaign will brings awareness and they hope to make the Day of Silence an annual event at Law.