According to an Op-Ed syndicated from GLSEN, some schools work hard to address name-calling, bullying and any kind of physical harassment. In the face of such an entrenched societal prejudice, however, targeted and specific action on anti-GLBT language and behavior is necessary to get these students back on an even playing field. Yet many state legislatures and school systems resist the need to specifically name sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories in their anti-bullying policies and statutes. Perhaps this is why, one year after King’s tragic murder, more than 60 GLBT youth continue to feel unsafe in school.

There are simple steps that all schools can take to make schools safer for all students, to end the endemic name-calling and harassment that GLBT students and their allies face every day. To ensure King and the countless others who endure anti-GLBT name-calling, bullying and harassment will not be forgotten, and to create an enduring legacy of safer schools for all in their names, students will hand out “Speaking Cards” which read:

“Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement bringing attention to the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies in schools. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by name-calling, bullying and harassment. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?”

Together, concerned students have created a powerful call to action in order to prevent future tragedies.

At the end of the day on April 17, students’ efforts will be supported by hundreds of community-based “Breaking the Silence” events throughout the country.

What are you going to do to end the silence?