#mckayllif

Dear Followers and fellow activists,

In 2012, I began coming out to my family and friends, & I continued the research I started in the previous year when I was finally coming out to myself. Upon doing this research, I found out about the Day of Silence, a youth movement started by a group of College students in 1996. The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) Day of Silence (DOS) is held every year in April. My first DOS was on April 21st, and I made a post about it on Facebook then asked a group of my friends for their support - that was the first time anyone participated in our school. I handed out speaking cards - even to people who I knew had conflicting religious beliefs - and I put tape over my mouth. (At the time I was unaware that GLSEN doesn't recommend this as it can cause allergic reactions or skin issues). Even though I got a lot of stares and many people were talking, or whispering (some people - towards the end of the day - used the movement as an excuse -_- to not have to speak up in class), it was the first time I felt support [and even love] for my sexual orientation (more so from friends than anyone, but also from certain teachers, and other allying students) from others, and it was the first time I publicly expressed my pride off of the internet, which made me even more proud and boosted my confidence. At that time, however, I was still not out at school - only my friends knew why I started the DOS at our school (and only I and my other friends knew who my friends were supporting by participating). 

In English class, 2013, I began to confide to my teacher, Mrs. Kruger - one of the very few people I trusted at our small town school of Superior Central (Eben, MI) - through my writing, and I wrote a persuasive essay in letter form to my principal, Mr. Valima, and convinced him to allow me to better organize the DOS. That year, I set up a booth with two of my 2012 supporters (Jessica Johnson, and Katy Monty), and passed out some brochures I typed up with statistics and information regarding the where-a-bouts  of the Day of Silence. I had a GLSEN participation sign-up sheet just to see how many people were (at least) interested by the movement. The booth was open for both our Middle School and High School lunch hours. First came the Middle School-ers, a chattering, swarming mass (I say mass, but bear in mind that our school is so small that the Elementary is connected, and we technically only have 2 hallways). Then came the High School-ers, few in number and almost all previous participants. I went from ecstatic to disappointed in a matter of seconds. And, while the DOS - April 19th, that year - went well, the turn-out was not as great as yesterday's sign up sheets had suggested it would be. The hardest part, however, was not the amount of people who did or did not participate; the hardest part was not being able to speak while ignorant high school boys laughed at the tape over my mouth and persisted on calling it "gay day" as my teachers either struggled to explain it to them or didn't bother to say a word, sending apologetic glances my way or (namely one of the substitute teachers) avoiding my eye-contact altogether. 

Now, in 2014, I have started a GSA at my school (which I recently registered with GLSEN), I have been accepted as one of GLSEN's official 2014 Street Team-ers, and I am looking forward to my third DOS on April 11th. I want to enlighten my school before I graduate, and now that I have reached my senior year, this is more crucial than ever, as it is my last chance to make a difference in Superior Central. I would like to thank you - my followers - for giving me further courage and support to continue on this journey towards creating safer schools (not just for LGBT+ Individuals and their allies, but for ALL students). 

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Special thanks to my sister, Sierra (for editing); my gf, Molly (for everything she has put into our relationship as well as for support); & my ELA teacher, Mrs. Kruger (for helping me out with the GSA as well as this year’s DOS).