One writer holds her tongue on this year's Day of Silence

[Shana A]

One writer holds her tongue on this year's Day of Silence
Christie Stiehl
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: The Weekly

http://media.www.dailynorthwestern.com/media/storage/paper853/news/2008/05/01/TheWeekly/Head-First.Watch.Your.Words-3360290.shtml

I went to a Catholic school in San Diego where we were blessed with a strongly conservative bishop. The school wouldn't allow a gay-straight alliance, so I was forced to settle for "Tolerance Club." It took me two years to gain support from the religion department and, at the end of my senior year, it looked like the Day of Silence was finally going to be recognized by my school. Days before the event, my advisor withdrew his support, claiming that I wasn't serious about it; I had been working on it all year. My advisor was scared. Every Day of Silence, I participate for myself and for my advisor, who feels he cannot speak up for what he knows is right. I silence myself to represent everyone who doesn't feel like they can be who they are. I silence myself as a reminder of all the times I felt alienated by my own sexuality.

[Pica Pica]

Days before the event, my advisor withdrew his support, claiming that I wasn't serious about it; I had been working on it all year.

working all year to being silent. i can be silent just like that.