I’m almost done with week 1 of my 13-week challenge! Only 3 more months!

Friday, April 20th, is an important day for me for two reasons: first and foremost because it’s my mommy’s birthday!! We’ll be having a day of sushi, movies and manicures–you can’t beat that!

Friday is also very important to me for another reason. Friday is the Day of Silence, the day in which we acknowledge members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community who have, for various reasons, been silenced, and it also protests the bullying and harassment of LGBT people and their allies (people who support equal rights for LGBT and straight/heteronormative people). I also interpret this day to honor those of the LGBT and their allies who have been killed or have killed themselves for simply being themselves and desiring equality and for not being supported. This day is honored by taking a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBT students and their supporters.

My partner and my mother are very aware of LGBT rights and therefore I’ll still be able to celebrate my mom’s birthday without resorting to texting or using sign language, but any time I am out of the house on Friday I will be silent. I’m sure it will be strange to some for me to be silent, especially since I’ll be going to a restaurant I go to frequently, but I will be asking my mom to explain to them why I am silent. I will be wearing a purple shirt (a color I’ve seen associated with LGBT a lot, if I had a rainbow shirt I’d wear that) and a black armband in memorial of those who have been killed or who have killed themselves due to bullying and for not being accepted for who they are.

Today, tomorrow, Friday, and every day I honor those who have been victims of violence and oppression. It’s a small thing, and I’m just one person, but enough “just one person”s can change the world. Check out the NO H8 Campaign to learn more about supporting equal rights.

On a more playful note, I’ve decided to do my toes in reference to a group of characters from the new Doctor Who. They’re called The Silence and you only remember them while you see them, as soon as you don’t see them you forget them entirely. To help the Doctor and his companions remember the Silence they would write tick marks on their bodies, so I’ve done tick marks on my toes.

Sally Hansen Whirlwind White

Milani Black Sketch

Milani White Canvas (for touchups)

Generic red striper

China Glaze Ruby Pumps (for heart and stamping)

Konad special black

Sally Hansen Wet Cement

BM-202