Date: Mon, 02 Feb 1998 09:42:24 -1000 From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice) Subject: SA 433: NATIONAL DAY OF SILENCE FEB 1, 1998 WE KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE! LGBT YOUTH AND THEIR ALLIES UNITE! National Day of Silence seeks 1998 participants http://wsrv.clas.virginia.edu/~mkp6n The second annual National Day of Silence (NDOS) will be held on April 8, 1998. In 1997, students at over one hundred high schools and colleges took part in this event, which protests the silence created by homophobia. On the NDOS, participants of all sexual orientations take a vow of silence for 9 hours, handing out explanatory cards instead of speaking to friends, classmates, and professors. This organized, visible silence has proven very successful in raising awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (lgbt) issues. After the silence hours, much dialogue goes on about the nature of silencing and the roots of homophobia. This year, we want to reach more campuses than in 1997, and in order to do that, WE NEED YOUR HELP! The NDOS is not expensive to hold-the main expenses are the xeroxing of the cards for participants to hand out. In our experience, the event builds community both between lgbt youth activists nationally and on the individual campuses who take part. The NDOS strengthens ties with other campus organizations (from whom you solicit participants and co-sponsorships), garners visibility for lgbt students and their allies, and reaches nearly every individual on campus. This is the only national event designed by and for youth to raise awareness of lgbt issues. So far about 54 high schools and colleges have sent us word that they intend to hold the NDOS at their campuses this year. There are still many weeks until April 8, but we urge you to begin preparation for the NDOS soon. We know that many schools who either participated last year or who heard about it are planning to participate in 1998. It would help us out a lot if those of you who are planning to participate can send info and contact information to Jessie Gilliam. We want to have as accurate a list as possible, for use with the press and as encouragement for even more schools to get involved. If you want more information about the National Day of Silence, please consult our web page at http://wsrv.clas.virginia.edu/~mkp6n. The web page has many organizing tips, press releases, and lists of 1998 and 1997 participants. You can also contact our national co-chairs and regional coordinators: National Co-chairs: Jessie Gilliam University of Virginia jmg8r@virginia.edu Maria Pulzetti University of Virginia mkp6n@virginia.edu Regional coordinators: Northeast: Elissa Mulligan Middlebury College Mulligan@panther.middlebury.edu South: Daniela Wotke Dywotk@mail.wm.edu Midwest: Jason Kamrath Western Illinois University Mujek2@wiu.edu High School Coordinator: Becca Feldman Ranbowbryt@aol.com Public Relations Coordinator: Joshua Jensen Hartt School of Music Jojensen@uhavax.hartford.edu -------------------------- Maria Katherine Pulzetti University of Virginia mkp6n@faraday.clas.virginia.edu http://www.youth-guard.org/ndos "We solemnly vow that there should never be another season of silence until we have the same rights everywhere on this green Earth." --Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1881 ****************************************************************************** * To subscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: subscribe queerplanet * * To unsubscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe queerplanet * * Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! * ****************************************************************************** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hillary's conspiracy theory? I believe it--especially after learning the Rutherford Institute is providing legal counsel for Paula Jones. The Rutherford Institute also actively opposing marriage rights for same-sex couples in Hawai`i." --Martin Rice ~~~~~~ Fred and Martin, 25 years, yet strangers before all but 18.8% of the law. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~