Gaysi - A Day of Silence

Illustrations for awareness article and social media campaign Following the theme of the Day of Silence, I made illustrations addressing issues such as having gender neutral uniforms, public facilities like toilets that align with the gender they identify themselves with, sex education involving the LGBTQI community, etc. These illustrations were used as an awareness campaign by Gaysi, an online platform and E-zine celebrating desi queers. They point out some of the issues we face in educational institutions within India, creating a hateful and phobic environment for children and young adults that belong to the queer community- leading in yearly rising suicide rates, violence and self-harm. (Full article on Gaysi website) The Day of Silence was first organised in the United States by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in a hope to bring awareness on the effects that harassment and discrimination by the students, school authorities and policies have on the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals in the USA. Held since the April of 1996, students in schools hold a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBTQIA+ students in educational institutions.