In a new viral publice service announcement former ‘N Sync boy bander Lance Bass discusses the importance of the 11th National Day of Silence, a sixty second April 25, 2008 event in memory of those lost to hate. It also encourages American students to take a vow of silence in protest of intolerance. Sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, this year’s Day of Silence is dedicated to the memory of fifteen-year-old Lawrence King, a gay high school student from Oxnard, Calif., who was shot and killed by a male classmate as he sat in computer class in February.

Visit www.dayofsilence.org.

“Every day, thousands of students are silenced,” Lance says in the spot. “They’re silenced by fear, they’re silenced for being who they are….They’re friends, they’re classmates, they’re brothers, they’re sisters, they’re gay, they’re straight, they’re you, they’re me.”

“Whoever they are, whatever their backgrounds or beliefs, these students will take action because they believe that the bullying and harassment must end…What are you going to do to end the silence?”