Today, April 20th, was Day of Silence at schools all across the country, and at my daughter’s high school as well.

What is the Day of Silence?

The Day of Silence is a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students from middle school to college take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT.

I was proud to see my daughter decked out in her pride gear today, ready to show support for her gay and lesbian friends! (Honestly, though, I probably would have vetoed that shirt if I’d realized how low cut it was. Yikes. She had a hoodie on when she walked out the door!)

As the mom of a special needs child, I am extra sensitive to bullying, especially involving kids who are different in some way. I stress to my daughters that they need to look out for their brother at all times, and speak up for anyone they see being mistreated or harassed. And I love the idea of students leading an awareness campaign like this – advocating on behalf of their peers!