Friday, April 16, 2010
LGBT National Day of Silence & Drag Show
Posted By Anna Sullivan on April 16, 2010, 2:41 PM
After "breaking the silence" this afternoon, Ally Week culminates tonight with Silence is a Drag ---
People throughout the nation today took a vow of silence in a student-led day of action designed to expose the effects of anti-LGBT bias and violence in school. Katie Stiel, a graduate assistant with the Resource Center at the University of Utah, said the day was about bringing attention to bullying and poor treatment of LGBT students, as well as being in memoriam of those who had been killed because of bigotry against the LGBT community.
I arrived late for "breaking the silence," but it looked like a good turnout- there were quite a few participants, many sporting purple t-shirts and all with red arm bands/bandanas to show their solidarity during the Day of Silence. It's likely that outsiders might view Utahns as not the most supporting of LGBT rights- particularly after Proposition 8, largely funded by the LDS Church, passed in California. But Stiel says the University of Utah is extremely supportive of the Resource Center, which has only had one incident with a non-supporter since its dedication in 2002.
Silence is a Drag is hosted by the University of Utah Queer Student Union and will include performances by students, staff, faculty, and community members, and should be an excellent way to finish off Awareness/Ally Week.
Silence is a Drag @ 3053 S. State Street, 7 p.m., April 16
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