GLSEN’s 10th National Day of Silence® Expected to be Largest To Date

Media Contact:
Riley Snorton
646-388-6580
rsnorton@glsen.org

Record numbers of student registrations with nearly one month to go

New York, NY – GLSEN®, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, today announced that an unprecedented numbers of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) and other co-curricular student clubs have taken part in early registration for GLSEN’s 10th national Day of Silence®.

With hundreds of student clubs representing thousands of students already registering their participation, it is anticipated that a record breaking 500,000 students from approximately 4,000 schools will take part in this year’s Day of Silence® on April 26, 2006.

“On the Day of Silence®, hundreds of thousands of students across America will use silence to voice the truth about anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in America’s schools,” said GLSEN Founder and Executive Director Kevin Jennings. “The tremendous numbers of students who take part in the Day of Silence® is cause for celebration and a loud message from America’s students that we must work harder to ensure safe and effective schools for every child.”

The Day of Silence®, a project of GLSEN in collaboration with the United States Student Association (USSA), is a national student-led day of action where those who support making anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bullying and harassment unacceptable in America’s schools participate in activities to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment - in effect, the silencing - experienced by LGBT students and their allies.

Students coordinate a wide range of programs and activities to tell their truth and participate in the day. While some students are able to be silent for the day, some participants are simply silent for part of the day, during lunch, or at community events – always ensuring they are fully participating at school while still sending their message about anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.

“I think that this year’s Day of Silence® is going to be huge,” said GLSEN National Student Leadership Team member Stephanie Diaz. “So many more students know about the day and more students support the cause.”

Students, schools and endorsing organizations, are encouraged to download free resources and information, and to register for this year’s Day of Silence® at www.dayofsilence.org.

About Day of Silence®
The Day of Silence®, a project of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in collaboration with the United States Student Association (USSA), is a student-led day of action where those who support making anti-LGBT bullying and harassment unacceptable in schools take part in activities to recognize and protest the discrimination and harassment - in effect, the silencing - experienced by LGBT students and their allies. The Day of Silence® was founded in 1996 by students at the University of Virginia, and in years since has become a landmark national event. For more information and a complete collection of organizing materials, log on to www.dayofsilence.org.

About GLSEN®
GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for ALL students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN’s educational resources, public policy and public education work, student organizing programs, research or development initiatives, continue to visit www.glsen.org.