By Anastasia Benstead, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
On Friday, April 11, 2025, AQ Pride participated in the National Day of Silence. Every year on the second Friday of April, the Queer community takes a selective vow of silence as a way to draw attention to the harassment and discrimination LGBTQ+ students face.
Allowed to break their silence to answer any questions, members of AQ Pride were in the lobby of the Academic Building from 10-11:30 a.m. in attempts to engage with students. On the table were informational pamphlets, stickers and pins to be given away.
“I thought it went great,” said sophomore Atlan Lasher, president of AQ Pride. “I was glad to see so much variety from faculty staff and students show up for it.”
Informational pamphlets made by AQ Pride – Photo by Abby Kozal
It can be very difficult to not speak, even if only for 24 hours. Within the U.S. some students even take to carrying a whiteboard or notebook around with them on the National Day of Silence.
“I think it helps to have people really think about the harm and hurt LGBTQ+ have gone through daily,” said Lasher. “It’s really important to notice the effect that it [the harm] can have.”
The entire point of the day is to bring awareness to hate speech and derogatory comments, something that AQ Pride feels is especially important at this moment. “We had a lot of good engagement,” said Cal McNally, vice president of AQ Pride. “Most people were really interested.”
“Most people did it [say derogatory comments] to get a reaction,” McNally said. “To stay silent is to not give in.”
The Saint 