Speaking out with silence

The Queer Alliance is participating in the National Day of Silence today to encourage support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and to help UCLA students understand the issues that community faces.

This nationwide youth movement is happening at many universities and high schools across the country.

Students who choose to participate today plan to tie pieces of cloth around their mouths in the morning, to represent their mission to remain silent and to highlight their cause. They plan to remain silent from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and to pass out fliers to students to answer any questions and explain the purpose of the day.

James Birks, a third-year psychology student, said he anticipates that the silence will bring visibility to the queer community on campus.

Birks has worked with the United States Student Association and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, to make sure the event grows and that students at more universities take part.

“We want to bring more light to queer issues,” Birks said. “We also want more awareness of hate crimes.”

Timothy Aoki, a first-year biology student, plans to participate in the event. A member of the Queer Alliance, he said he does not always feel comfortable talking about LGBT issues, even among friends.

“The National Day of Silence symbolizes how people of the queer community are forced to be silent,” Aoki said. “You are forced to hide that you are LGBT. Even with my friends around, I’m forced to be silent.”

This year, the event is being held in special remembrance of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old high school student shot and killed by a classmate on Feb. 12 in Oxnard, about 40 miles from UCLA. Classmates reported that King may have been killed because he self-identified as gay and liked to wear feminine clothing and makeup.

“People tend to forget hate crimes happen because we have it so good here at UCLA,” Birks said. “Hate crimes get overlooked.”

The participants will break their silence twice to speak. Birks said he hopes those moments will add an even greater impact to the day. At noon in Bruin Plaza, students will share stories about people who have been bullied or harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender expression.

The second event will break the silence at 5 p.m. to honor King.

Elizabeth Rojas, the chair of Fluid, a student group that focuses on bisexual and pansexual-related issues, said it is important to share stories of hate so messages of hope can be revealed.

“We want to get support from the community,” Rojas said. “Hate crimes are very relevant this year, especially after what happened to King, and it’s important to create awareness of hate crimes. This is why we need the silence today.”

Besides taking a pact to remain silent throughout the day, there are many ways that students can show support to the LGBT community, Aoki said. The Queer Alliance will be passing out red ribbons that students can wear throughout the day to show they support the National Day of Silence and the LGBT community.

“People think it’s impossible, that a day of silence will do nothing,” said Aoki. “But it’s a big symbol. It’s not just about the physical silence, but about the thoughts and support from people.”

Aoki said that in years past, the Queer Alliance has run out of red ribbons to distribute.

“Anyone with a red ribbon is a supporter,” said Aoki. “We just want people to be more supportive and accepting.”

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