W.L. Chenery Middle School promotes GLSEN’s “National Day of Silence” for students in support of LGBTQ activism

In an April 9, 2023, newsletter for parents at W.L. Chenery Middle School, the school promoted GLSEN’s “Day of Silence” taking place on April 14. The newsletter explains: “Our GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) student members will be observing the national Day of Silence organized by GLSEN. This year the GLSEN Day of Silence is Friday, April 14.” The newsletter then provides the following explanation from GLSEN:

From the GLSEN site: “The GLSEN Day of Silence is a student-led national event that brings attention to anti-LGBTQ name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. Students from middle school to college take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBTQ behavior by illustrating the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBTQ students and those perceived to be LGBTQ.”

The newsletter then adds: “Educators may show their support on this day by wearing one of the GSA pins or wearing a pride t-shirt. It is expected that teachers are conducting their lessons verbally on this day.” PDE was told by concerned community members that the school celebrated the day last year with the teachers also remaining silent during their classes.

The organization GLSEN is known for promoting LGBTQ issues to young children. GLSEN states on its website that “while many LGBTQ+-inclusive school supports begin in middle or high school, it is critical for elementary schools to establish a foundation of respect and understanding for all people.” The organization has also appeared to show support for children taking “hormone replacement therapy” to transition to another gender:

Upon birth, we are typically categorized into one of two genders (boy or girl) depending on how our genitals are read. Throughout our lives, however, our many bodily characteristics work together to create a unique path of development, causing some of us to grow really tall, and others to remain short, or some of us to grow hair under our armpits and legs, while others remain bare. While this development often happens on its own during puberty, this change can also be administered through medicine, such as hormone replacement therapy. Since our society often conflates our bodies (or genitalia) with our gender identity, it is critical that we allow space for people to self-identify.