The Day of Silence is an annual awareness campaign coordinated by GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) that takes place worldwide every year on the second Friday of April. It originated in 1996 at the University of Virginia, initiated by Jessie Gilliam and Maria Pulzetti to address the bullying and harassment faced by LGBTQ+ students. Participants, including students from middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities, take a day-long vow of silence to symbolize the silencing of queer students who often face dismissal when reporting bullying. Since becoming an official GLSEN project in 2002, the event has grown to include tens of thousands of students from over 60 countries, with more than 10,000 participants from all 50 states in the U.S. each year. The event concludes with “Break the Silence,” a rally organized by local GLSEN chapters or student groups. Despite facing opposition from socially conservative organizations, the Day of Silence continues to be a significant event for promoting awareness of LGBTQ+ issues in educational settings.