On Friday, April 10, Milton Academy held a school-wide march during the Day of Silence, which seeks to address the silencing of LGBTQ+ youth in schools. Since 1996—when the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) first organized the event—schools across the U.S. have observed the occasion to spread awareness about those lost or silenced by homophobia or transphobia.
Instead of going to Friday class meeting, all Upper School students proceeded into the Athletic and Convocation Center to hear the Pride Alliance’s student leaders speak. Then, Upper & Middle School Equity & Inclusion Program Manager Yann Kumin instructed students to, regardless of their beliefs, understand that “this process is about acknowledging our common humanity.” Led by the senior classes, students then formed two columns and silently walked to the area of the Quad between Straus Library and Wigglesworth Hall. After, some students began a vow of complete silence, which they then broke at a gathering at 3:20 p.m. Rhys Adams ’26, Head of LGBTQ+ Affinity, estimated that 25 students observed the Day of Silence on some level.
Adams stated that “[the student organizers’] primary goal is to raise awareness, and [their] secondary goal is to hopefully show certain members of the community who [they] are and what [they] stand for.” The Department of Equity, Inclusion, & Justice, who aided the student organizers, aimed “to uplift and to facilitate,” Kumin explained. The DEIJ Office also alerted faculty that though some students may be silent in class, observers’ participation grades should not be negatively impacted, and no one should be forced to speak.
However, not all students believe that taking a vow of silence was the best method to raise awareness or take a stand against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. Raphy Rufino ’27 said that while he appreciates the intent, he believes that “we should be celebrating instead of being silent… Let’s take this time to acknowledge the contributions and the impact of these people.” Also, while he understands that the purpose of the day is to put oneself in the shoes of a traditionally silenced minority, Rufino commented that “Taking the vow doesn’t measure [up] to the harsh experiences that the LGBTQ+ community [undergoes].” He also felt the day was less of “an actual celebration and recognition of identity, and it was more of just like a performative thing.” Specifically, he feels that if students just substitute verbal communication with non-verbal methods, like writing on Post-it notes, their actions “kind of [defeats] the purpose ‘cause you’re communicating in another way.”
On the other hand, Alexander Landis-Arnold ’26, who remained silent for parts of the day, felt that “the purpose of [Day of Silence] is kind of the dramatization of the silence that many [LGBTQ+] people go through.” Landis-Arnold added that “staying silent and needing to use other means…dramatizes [the day] even more.” He believes non-verbal communication “might actually help the purpose.”
Kumin highlighted that, especially given recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, “events like this are extremely important for marginalized communities and populations, especially those who are directly under attack,” including the trans and gender nonconforming communities in the U.S. He hopes that the Day of Silence “becomes part of a larger arc that bends towards justice and love.”
Annabelle Chen ’28, who chose to take a vow of silence, echoed this sentiment, stating how “the communities [she is] part of are larger than [she is], and supporting the LGBTQ+ community is important now more than ever.” Chen added that “if people can accommodate the silence of a few, they can respect the existence of people who differ from them.”
Landis-Arnold aimed to support the peers around him. He said, “I have…a lot of friends who experience this a lot more deeply than I do…Although the issues that they're talking about don't affect me as directly, I feel like it would be remiss to not recognize that I have a part to play if not by directly supporting myself then by supporting my friends.”
However, Landis-Arnold noted that even though Milton is “an unusually progressive and accepting campus,” it still has “some people who aren’t necessarily as accepting and so might question you not necessarily out of actual curiosity, but out of derision for what you're trying to do and…make it difficult for you to just normally go about your day.”