Reach Out Through Silence
Spectrum, the LGBT organization at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), is bringing pride to mind on campus this April.
They have designated April to be Pride Month. The month will be fi lled with informative tables and programs in campus, coming to a head in a moving Day of Silence display April 23.
The Pride Month concept was put together by a group of students interested in bringing LGBT diversity to the forefront of the UNLV community. Some of them are members of Spectrum and of the Student Diversity group.
A UnityFest will be held in Pida Plaza, in the middle of the UNLV campus, to bring together the different diverse groups throughout campus. The festival will include LGBT clubs as well as other diversity oriented groups. Spectrum will also have a presence at Rebels After Dark during Greek Week. The Safe Zone program, which teaches students and advisors to be a welcoming "Safe Zone" for students in the coming out process, will hold a conference at the beginning of that month. Students are also encouraged to participate in Aid for AIDS of Nevada's AIDS Walk downtown April 20.
Spectrum will have a constant presence on the campus with educational materials and people to answer questions about the Day of Silence at the end of the month. The booth will be handing out stickers and buttons.
"Day of Silence is an event that Spectrum is putting on, but it is actually held at schools and universities across the country. We're united to reflect the silence that has been imposed on GLBT people when they weren't able to speak out about who they were because of fears of being fired, of being disowned by their parents, about being outcast in their community," said Jaime Roberts, a student member of Spectrum.
Students will honor the day by one simple act: not speaking. They will be provided with small slips of paper to present to teachers and fellow students explaining the purpose of their silence. Students will also be able to gather in the center of campus to sit in a "Circle of Silence" while one designated voice announces to anyone passing the purpose of the large silent group populating the school. Spectrum members hope that a large amount of participation will help to reach out to the community about the still strong need for acceptance.
"Day of Silence is not just for the people who know about it and are participating, it informs the community about the silence that's going on," said Roberts. "And for the new participants who think it's not a big deal, every time throughout the day when they get the urge to say something but can't it reminds them of every GLBT person who, when someone asks them a question about their boyfriend or girlfriend, wants to say something but they can't."
The demonstration will end at 3 p.m., when the gathered group on the lawn will break the silence with celebratory shouts and cheers. Then it will be followed up the next night with a "Night of Screams" party on campus.
Night of Screams will include a "Guess Who's Gay" event that shows attendees the downfalls of assuming that someone is a certain orientation because of appearances. This event has had a packed reception on the UNLV campus in the past, and students have always come away thinking.
Then it will be time to party as the Night of Screams takes to the ballroom on campus for partying and merriment. Just as important as the partying, however, is the fact that everyone there knows that, at least for one night, they can scream their secrets to the rooftops. Angelina Fernandez, the Vice President of Spectrum, has held events like this in prior schools, and she says that people feel great being able to do just that.
"Our officers of our club, some of them were not outed to their whole family. They were not completely through with their process of becoming okay with themselves. And when we had Day of Silence and Night of Screams, it was just very beautiful to see how open and free and at ease they could be when they knew they were in a safe environment. So hopefully we're creating that safe environment everywhere, not just on one day, in one place in room, but everywhere," said Fernandez.
The month is not over after Day of Silence. Assemblyman David Parks, the first openly gay member of the Nevada Legislature, will be speaking on campus on April 28. There will also be a brown bag discussion led by the Center for Homeless Youth. The discussion will focus on homeless LGBT youth in our city.
While the Night of Screams party is only open to UNLV students and guests, the demonstration on campus will be visible to any person that walks past the very centralized Pida Plaza. More information can be found on fliers handed out in the student union on campus.
This is the fi rst Pride Month that UNLV has held recently, and the Spectrum advisors are hoping for and expecting a good reaction. "I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I hope we can do it yearly from now on," said event sponsor Oscar Guircovich.