The University of Rhode Island Gender and Sexuality Alliance hosted a “Break Your Silence” concert to honor queer and transgender lives in partnership with the Gender and Sexuality Center on Tuesday.
Rhode Island bands Marble House, told not to worry and Orange Peaks performed at the outdoor concert, held in the back courtyard of the Gender and Sexuality Center. The show began with a moment of silence to honor queer and transgender lives lost, in reference to the Day of Silence.
The Day of Silence is a day of protest in the queer community, typically observed on the second Friday of April. Started in 1996 by two college students at the University of Virginia, students take a vow of silence in protest of mistreatment and discrimination against the queer community, according to the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network..
The sponsoring organization, the GLSEN, changed the event in 2024 to the Day of (No) Silence in protest of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, according to the GLSEN website.
“With more than 800 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced last year, we must rise up and take action,” GLSEN said.
Traditionally, students break the silence at the end of the day with a rally. This year, in keeping with the no silence theme, SAGA decided to end with a concert, SAGA president Jae DosSantos said. In recent years the celebration has been absent from campus.
“So this year I wanted to do it again,” DosSantos said. “But I wanted it to be a much bigger event.”
Two URI Musician’s Guild bands joined the bill, Marble House and told not to worry. Marble House was inspired to join by their proximity to the cause, beginning their set by lead vocalist Gwen Kavanaugh calling: “Cheer if you’re gay!”
“We’re a female led band, and if we’re not part of the LGBTQ+ community, we’re allies,” Marble House drummer Leah Popovic said.
Audience members included Guild and SAGA members, as well as students who support the cause.
“It’s a really good environment and a really good cause,” student Julia Borges said.
While the outdoor venue was a change for the bands, the chilly evening didn’t stop the traditional mosh pit from forming. During heavier sets from told not to worry and Orange Peaks, audience members danced in the courtyard.
“The energy is really fun supporting our local bands and the LGBT community,” student Kayla Archer said.
Bringing new students to the Gender and Sexuality Center was one of the main goals of the concert, DosSantos said.
“I feel like people on campus don’t really know about the Gender and Sexuality Center since it’s way over there,” DosSantos said.
The Gender and Sexuality Center is located at 19 Upper College Road on the Kingston Campus, and offers resources for students, such as support groups and educational seminars .
“Mental health is really tough in the queer community, and they have really amazing resources over there and also just really nice people,” DosSantos said.
At the concert’s sign-in table, guests were greeted with informational pamphlets and flyers supporting LGBT issues.
The URI Gender and Sexuality Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.