On Friday, Apr. 12 2019, students all over Roswell High School stood in silence in support of the LGBTQ community. This day is known as the Day of Silence and it occurs annually across the United States. “It’s a student led, national event, where people go silent to stand up against the silencing of LGBTQ kids,” said sophomore Cole O’Donovan.

Being silent is a way students are able to peacefully protest against the harassment and bullying of the LGBTQ community. “The not speaking is a symbol of going like, the students that are in the LGBT community were silenced and so we have the National Day of Silence to stand up against that,” said Cole.

At Roswell High School there had been strips of cloth available for those who wanted to stand in support of the LGBTQ community. There were also smaller, rainbow colored ribbons students and teachers could wear or pin to their bags to show their support. “The strips are like bands…what we do is we write silence on some of them, and the silence is to let people know that you’re being silent for the day. It doesn’t have to mean you’re part of the LGBT community; you can be an ally too,” said Cole. For students who wanted to show their support for the LGBTQ community but did not wish to go silent for the day there were support bands, which they could also wear. “And then there’s the support band, where if you don’t want to be silent…you can wear the support band because it’s showing that you’re supporting and you can also be LGBT and you just want to talk so you wear support,” said Cole.

The students who made the bands worked tirelessly during the days leading up to the event to prepare the strips of cloth for students. “The GSA President, Bailey, she organized it, she told us what we were doing…then GSA and I started making the bands,” said Cole. Students were able to pick up the strips of cloth and the ribbons from Ms. Volpert’s room in D Hall. “If you want them (the bands) you can come to Ms. Volpert’s room, which is D106. You can go in there in the morning and we’ll give you a band,” said Cole.

The Day of Silence has helped many LGBTQ students feel included and many feel that it is an important day for them to stand up for themselves and other members of the LGBTQ community who are still subject to being unfairly silenced.