Looking for a forum to voice opinions on gay and lesbian topics?
Every Tuesday, from 1 to 1:50 p.m., a group of students attend the Gay/Straight Alliance to gain insight and awareness on homosexuality and to also have a place to share common views.
“As a club, we have many discussions on important topics that need addressing in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual community. It’s something we do on a weekly basis. It also allows our members to talk to each other and express their feelings and concerns,” Tamara Gonzalez, president of GSA, said.
Jesse Pedraza, a member of GSA, is one of the many students who joined the club because of their friend’s persuasion to join.
“Word of mouth is usually how we get people to join,” Brittany Henderson, a member of GSA, said.
The GSA officially started in 2000 to give a place for socializing and networking for homosexuality or otherwise. Angela Simon, the club adviser, and Joe Holliday are currently sponsoring it.
“What the club is about is it’s a blend of socializing and education. Our goals are to educate everyone in this club and everyone outside of it about what this club is really about,” Simon said.
The GSA works like any other club, and that is getting as many people who want to join through club rush, posters and even e-mails to friends.
“It’s always about education. We want everyone in our club to feel comfortable,” Simon said.
One of the things that the GSA try to do to help members, new and returning alike, feel more comfortable, is host events in order to help break the ice and to help the transition to assimilating into the club easier.
Newer members who usually join use the reason that their friends wanted them to join, but the making of new friends in the club is one of the many perks the GSA offers. New coming members are then introduced to many other gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transsexual people that they can interact and relate to.
“One of our goals in this club is to make everyone feel comfortable,” Simon said. “This club allows its members to do so in a safer environment.”
Last Saturday was National Coming Out Day all across America.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, on October 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. As a result of this demonstration, a series of organizations were founded due to its success.
Also, as a result, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual activists started the idea of a national day to celebrate coming out and chose the second day of the march, Oct. 11, to be the anniversary.
For National Coming Out Day, the GSA had a booth setup with numerous amounts of informative literature on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexuals for anyone willing to pickup a copy of them.
“We also had a panel type forum on Saturday. So that we could keep people informed on what we do as a club,” Gonzalez said.
With increased awareness to gay and lesbians, there may be more acceptances to the sexual orientation that so many individuals share. In addition, there should be self-acceptance to being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transsexual.
“It’s really about being accepted because of who you are, not what you’re trying to hide,” Henderson said.
