Gay-Straight Alliance Club Advocates Acceptance

It’s 2:45 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon, the halls are soon to be empty. Most students are sitting in their cars anxiously waiting in line to drive out of the school parking lot, while others are waiting for their parents to pick them up. This is not the case for junior Patrick Riggin and club president for Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).

At this time every week he walks out of his last period and straight to room 523 where he and senior Becca Thrasher, co president, warmly greet all regulars and new comers to the club. After all newcomers are introduced the students actively begin talking about equality, pop culture, gay rights or anything pertaining to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) students. An hour passes as some say their goodbye’s and flee the room, others stay to continue conversation, ask questions, or just talk.

Riggin, who is openly gay and Thrasher, who is openly straight, started GSA during mid-September of this year because “east needed a safe place for LGBT students to go to, where they aren’t judged,” Riggin said.

Although the club is still getting started, senior and club Secretary Bailey Borgmier says that fundraisers and guest speakers are in mind for the future of GSA.

On Nov. 9 GSA had their first guest speakers, gay rights activists Shane Lee and Kandy Combs. Both Lee and Combs talked briefly about suicide, their childhood and family acceptances of their sexual orientation. Combs explained how she had attempted to commit suicide three times before entering college because her family was not accepting of her sexuality.

“LBGT kids commit suicide everyday because they don’t have an outlet, this club is that outlet,” Combs said. “If there would have been a club like this when I was in high school or college, I wouldn’t have tried so many times.”

Just weeks ago the members of GSA spent a club meeting making elaborate posters to spread the word for students who had yet to hear about the openly LGBT students making a difference. Days later the posters were torn down by fellow peers, none of the posters remain.

“When you bring something controversial to subject it becomes a problem, I wasn’t bullied about my sexual orientation until I started this club,” Riggin said.

Despite the fact that most of the club members are either straight or unsure of their sexual orientation, some SME students have shown a lack of tolerance towards GSA. Other than the posters being torn down Riggin says that no one has been seriously bullied, but homophobic slurs have been tossed around quite a bit in the classroom and halls. He also says that the term ‘that’s so gay’ has been used too frequently for too long; to the extent of people growing accustomed to saying it.

“It may not be directed at anyone in particular but it still hurts that the term used to describe a minority is used so negatively,” Riggin said.

According to Borgmier the club members were not affected by what had happened, only continuing to help those in need of support, answer questions and make every one’s sexual orientation okay in the minds of everyone, one school as a time.

Riggin plans to spread GSA, not only to other high schools around the area but to middle schools as well. This way students will become more aware and accepting of LBGT students at a younger age. Although Riggin, Thrasher and other club members realize that it will take time and strength to achieve their goals, they are committed to spreading acceptance and tolerance.

“Civil Rights action didn’t happen with silence,” Thrasher said, “and neither will this.”