Silence will speak loudly today as members and supporters of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community pledge not to speak for nine hours in an effort to call attention to the silence such students face everyday.
Those taking the pledge vow not to speak, but will circulate flyers explaining the meaning of their silence among those they encounter.
\Silence is an effective tool because it reflects ... people being forced to hide their gender identity,"" said Brendan Fleming, the LGBT diversity liaison with the Associated Students of Madison Diversity Committee, who helped organize the Day of Silence events.
The Day of Silence began seven years ago with one student in Virginia, according to Jason Rasmussen, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network of South Central Wisconsin. Last year, some local high schools participated in the day, but today's events will mark the first time UW-Madison students will take an active role.
""The reality is that LGBT students on this campus ... face harassment all the time and it's something that we really need to bring attention to,"" said Lilia Williams, the students of color issues liaison with ASM, who helped plan the day.
Williams said the day will serve as a reminder to the community of the plight of LGBT students, but it is also an effort to create a more ""holistic movement.""
""We're also looking at how we might be silencing others within our own community,"" she said.
The Day of Silence in Madison will culminate with a rally to ""Break the Silence"" at 5:30 p.m. at the Capitol. Students from UW-Madison will gather at 5 p.m. at the LGBT Campus Center in Memorial Union before meeting local high school students, community members and local political leaders at the rally.
Organizers said they expect approximately 150 to 200 students to partake in the pledge.
""We've had a good response,"" Fleming said. ""We're not trying to just have this be an activity within the LGBT community. We want everyone to be involved.\
