How to Be an Ally to LGBTQ+ Youth

Silence can tell us a lot—especially about where people don’t feel fully safe being themselves.

That’s the idea behind the Day of Silence on April 10, when students across the country take a vow of silence to bring attention to the bullying and harassment many LGBTQ youth experience. It’s a quiet act, but it carries an important message: for some young people, silence isn’t a choice—it’s a form of protection.

Why This Day Exists

The Day of Silence began in 1996 as a student-led effort and later grew into a national movement supported by GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network). Its purpose is to highlight the ways LGBTQ students can feel silenced in their everyday lives—whether that’s holding back from sharing who they are, avoiding certain spaces, or staying quiet to reduce the risk of being targeted.

From a psychological perspective, this makes sense. When someone anticipates judgment or harm, they naturally adapt by minimizing visibility. Silence, in that context, becomes a way to stay safe.

The Impact of Bullying and Harassment

For LGBTQ youth, bullying is often not a one-time experience—it can be ongoing and deeply felt. Over time, that kind of stress can affect both mental health and development.

Research consistently shows that LGBTQ students are more likely to experience:

• Anxiety and depression

• Lower sense of belonging at school

• Decreased academic engagement

• Social withdrawal or self-censorship

And at a deeper level, it can shape how young people see themselves. Adolescence is a critical time for identity development. When that process is met with rejection or fear, it can lead to lasting challenges with confidence, trust, and self-expression.

What It Means to Be an Ally

Being an ally doesn’t have to be complicated or performative. At its core, it’s about helping create environments where people feel seen, respected, and safe.

Here are a few meaningful ways to do that:

1. Listen with intention: If a young person shares their experience, give them your attention and believe what they’re telling you. Feeling heard can make a significant difference.

2. Gently challenge harmful behavior: If you hear language or see behavior that excludes or harms, speak up in a calm, clear way. Small interventions can shift the tone of an entire environment.

3. Be mindful of everyday language: Using inclusive language helps signal that people don’t have to hide parts of themselves to belong.

4. Keep learning: You don’t need to have all the answers. Staying open and willing to learn builds trust over time.

5. Help create safer spaces: Whether at home, in school, or at work, small, consistent actions—like setting expectations for respect—can make environments feel more supportive.

Moving Forward

The Day of Silence isn’t just about one day of quiet—it’s an invitation to notice where silence exists and why. It encourages us to think about how we can help create spaces where young people don’t feel the need to hold back in the first place.