AFA of PA ACTION ALERT
April 3, 2025
Issue
GLSEN Still Targeting Our Kids
Details:
In early February the executive director of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network or GLSEN reported that 18 employees—more than half of the organization’s staff—were let go as part of a restructuring effort the organization says is aimed at ensuring the group’s survival and long-term impact. The decision, Melanie Willingham-Jaggers noted, was driven by a steep decline in revenue and a broader effort to “right-size” the organization for the challenges ahead.
GLSEN is down, but not out as it still targets our nation’s children –including in PA. Another good bit of news is, their website only reports one GLSEN chapter in the commonwealth – in Philly.
However, one of their big “days of action” is the Day of Silence, held each April. Prior to 2024 that’s exactly what they did: GLSEN encouraged students not to speak throughout the day in order to show support for LGBTQ students. Now from their website, which now has a big red “exit” button in the upper right hand corner for any student to use if their parents happens to walk in while they are on GLSEN’s website: “2025 Day of (No) Silence: In 2024, we made the switch toDay of (NO) Silence, in opposition to the current attempted erasure of LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender and nonbinary people, from public life. Being silent is no longer an option. We must use our voices throughout the week leading up to Day of (No) Silence on April 4th.”
Some of their action items:
Follow GLSEN on social media
Share post, stories, videos on your platforms on the Day of (No) Silence
Rise up and take action by not staying silent online on April 4th.
Asking former LGBTQ students to write letters to their former schools using their online form to tell their story. (GLSEN has a sample letter that can be used.) GLSEN will then mail the letters “ to school administrators with a resource pack on ways they can support their queer students.” GLSEN also calls on teachers to create an inclusive classroom with the Rainbow Library and to use Rainbow Library curriculum in their classroom. GLSEN also provides Action Guides for teachers to use.
GLSEN provides printable posters for free and Day of (No) Silence merchandise for purchase.
Action Steps:
So, what is your child or grandchild’s school doing on Friday, April 4th? GLSEN used to proudly list the participating schools on their website, until the AFA of PA and others publicized the list and schools began getting pushback.
It might be a good idea to simply keep your child home on April 4th ! Make sure they understand your concerns.
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