Interview with Jesse Gilliam

Former YouthResource peer educator Kaitlyn interviews Jesse Gilliam, one of the founders of the Day of Silence Project.

Kaitlyn: What made you decide to co-found the Day of Silence with Maria [Pulzetti]?

Jesse: Maria had implemented the idea at the University of Virginia in the spring of '96. I participated in the event and it had a remarkable impact on me. It was one of the first times I advocated publicly for GLBT rights. I had many interesting discussions the day after, and even felt empowered to start attending the meetings of our GLBT student union. When she came to me saying she wanted to share the idea with other schools, I was happy to work with her to spread the word nationally.

Kaitlyn: Why silence?

Jesse: Anyone who's experienced the "silent treatment" from a friend or sibling knows that sometimes not saying anything is one of the most powerful statements one can make. In college we held countless rallies and events but it seemed like the people who needed to hear the messages about homophobia and transphobia simply weren't coming to the events. In short, rallies and speeches were too easy to avoid. So, we decided on an event that would spread to cafeterias and campus grounds, to classrooms and lockers, an event everyone would notice.

The Day of Silence is a misnomer of sorts because of the Speaking Cards - because of these cards, someone participating in the event is communicates exclusively about oppression, homophobia, and transphobia that GLBT young people face.

Kaitlyn: What would you say to those who think that the idea of using silence as a protest is crazy?

Jesse: The first person to tell me this actually wrote an article in our college's newspaper on the Day of Silence - his case was that silence just ends up hurting people further. I wrote a letter to the editor pointing out that it was the Day of Silence that gave him the venue to write about GLBT issues in our school's newspaper. The simple fact is that people notice the Day of Silence and know why people are doing it. So, it's hard to claim that the Day of Silence makes GLBT people or GLBT issues invisible.

Kaitlyn: Of all of the national organizations out there, why did you approach GLSEN and USSA to help with the Day?

Jesse: Both GLSEN, which runs the high school component of the Day of Silence, and USSA, which runs the college component, are organizations with a history of working with young people in a respectful way. Both organizations have effectively implemented dozens of national campaigns. I cannot think of better organizations to take on the Day of Silence Project.

Kaitlyn: Do you have any advice, on a personal level, to those who would like to organize the Day but don't know how to go about it?

Jesse: Thankfully the Day of Silence Project has a great infrastructure. Check out http://www.dayofsilence.org for information on how to organize a Day of Silence in your community.

On a personal level, remember that organizing the Day of Silence, or any campaign to designed to end oppression, can be taxing in addition to being extremely rewarding. Be sure to have a support network around you before, during, and after the Day of Silence.

Kaitlyn: Did you have any idea that the Day would be such a success on a national level?

Jesse: The first year we publicized the event nationally, we got quite a bit of positive feedback, particularly from more conservative schools. Over 100 schools conducted the event successfully that first year and many students wrote me saying how much the event resonated with them. After that I was not surprised at how all the hard work of the staff and the young people working with GLSEN and USSA has helped spread the event to thousands of high schools and colleges. I am very proud of all the work people have done, on a national and local level, to end homophobia and transphobia.

Kaitlyn: Do you believe that the Day of Silence will only continue to grow?

Jesse: As long as there is homophobia and transphobia and people working to stop it, the Day of Silence will grow as an event. Thankfully we're already seeing positive results from the awareness spread by the Day of Silence. Many colleges that conducted the Day of Silence in the first year (when GLBT issues were rarely addressed in a level that would affect change in their organizations) are now finding the Day of Silence unnecessary because GLBT young people are not silenced on their campus. They now have a strong voice. I hope that the Day of Silence outgrows its need on every campus and high school!