Gay Straight Alliance Opens to Student Body and Community

The first Gay Straight Alliance meeting of the year will take place this afternoon in room 524. Junior Dan Long, the new club president, would like to encourage an open, public meeting this time after more private activities in years past. Before, most attendees were directed there by the counselor or referred by friends and attendance was typically at 12 or 13.

“I want it to be open to anyone who wants to learn, who is willing to set aside their differences: ‘What does transgender mean? Or what does gender-queer mean?’” Long said. “I want it to be an educational place, where we can quench ignorance.”

Of course, he still wants it to be a safe haven for those who identify as part of the LGBT spectrum. Today, students are welcome to attend the meeting to help determine the first speaker that will be invited to present to GSA. This will be chosen from a list of local support groups such as Lighthouse or SOFFA KC. Long hopes to bring in such speakers for every meeting this year.

“I’m absolutely supportive of the speakers: bringing in the relevance so that we’re not just in a bubble and building on those outside resources,” said club sponsor Melinda DiGirolamo.

In addition, Long met with South’s GSA sponsor last week to finally confirm that the two schools will be doing collaborations in service actives to benefit both the general populations in need and local LGBT communities.