AUBURN – At least 100 Edward Little High School students vowed Friday to be silent – unless responding to a teacher’s question – as a way of protesting the bullying and intimidation of gay and lesbian young people.

Following a nationwide effort, the Auburn teens promised not to speak for the school day unless addressed by a teacher or administrator.

The Day of Silence was created as a response to the worry that follows too many gay and lesbian people: to speak out makes one a target for threats or worse, said Heidi Conn, a guidance counselor at Edward Little High School.

“They need allies to say, ‘Knock it off,'” said Conn, the adviser to the school’s Gay Straight Alliance.

Lots of allies came forward Friday.

Though the alliance numbers only seven or so, its members distributed at least 100 red cards to students who wanted to join the silence and at least 400 rainbow-colored ribbons, signifying their sympathy for the cause.

“We ran out of the ribbons,” Conn said.

School administrators supported the move as a way of fighting the bullying or intimidation of any group.

“We’re supportive of actions that provide support for diversity,” Assistant Principal Steve Galway said.

Bias and hatred only gets in the way of learning, he said.

“No school is insulated,” he said. “No school is immune. Everyone deserves a safe opportunity to learn at school.”

Neither the kids who participated or the other kids were made to feel uncomfortable, Galway said.

The school day ended with the participating teens marching out the school doors at 2 p.m. for their ending to the silence.

The protest began solemnly. Then, at the appointed time, they cheered in unison.

“They took it seriously,” Conn said of the participating students. “It wasn’t a lark for them.”