Voices, once silenced, can now be heard

The following are statements made by straight college students who participated in the 2008 "Day of Silence".

"As the day went on I began to understand how awful it must feel to want to say something but feel like you were not allowed to. I can't imagine what it must feel like to not be able to say anything because you were afraid of what others would think of you."


"This day of silence showed me how lonely being silenced is. You have no one to talk to and share your thoughts and feelings. It is very debilitating. There are so many obstacles when you are silenced."


"Staying silent made the day drag by. Interactions with others are what make us human. Interactions also serve as therapy in a way; if you are having a bad day, one of your friends may be able to say the perfect thing to make you feel better. When someone is silenced about their sexuality, this chance is lost because no one knows who they really are, therefore how would someone know how to make them feel better?"


"Participating in this day made me realize that people that experience being silenced must feel very alone and left out. They cannot take part in forming everyday relationships with the people around them because they are limited as to what they can say about themselves and their personal life."


"It was humbling not to be heard, especially when waiting in line or in class. For me, it shone a lot of light on just how hard it is to simply exist when everyone around you is not hearing anything you say, or ignoring you presence."


"I think this event was eye opening to everyone, whether they choose to speak or choose to be silent. We are all part of the same community and ignoring a group can be hurtful to our growth as a whole. Alienating groups does not make a society stronger; in fact, it makes it weaker, because it creates tension. This unhealthy behavior practiced by individuals and governments alike is perpetuating violence and discrimination, two things most people can agree on we need less of, not more."