Gay-Straight Alliance at GHS

Savannah Corwin Hall

Over the summer I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Program (RYLA). At this program we learned essential leadership skills and were asked to engage in a community service project. I had no clue what I wanted to do and a friend of mine asked me if my school currently had a Gay-Straight Alliance or GSA Club; I realized that we didn’t. I instantly knew what I wanted to do: bring a GSA club to Greenport.

Ms. Dubreuil, the school psychologist will take on the role of club advisor. She is "looking forward to stepping outside [her] role of school psychologist into something new this school year. Since [her] office is on the first floor [she] is looking forward to building connections with a large group of secondary students in a meaningful way."

"The Pride Alliance is a student-run club that provides a safe place for students to meet, support each other, and talk about issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. The club members work to establish a positive, welcoming, and inclusive school climate. The club is for all students grades 7-12. Student voice is at the heart of the club," stated Ms. Dubreuil. " Clubs at the middle and high school levels benefit school climate and individual social and emotional health for all students."

The first GSA Club was formed in 1988 at a Massachusetts school when a student approached a teacher who had recently come out, upset about the treatment of gay students. The student, with help from her teacher, then recruited others who felt the same, thus starting the first Gay-Straight Alliance Club.

"The three main functions of the club are social, support, and advocacy. Socially the aim is to create a fun and safe community for students to meet other LGBTQ+ and Ally students, make friends, and celebrate." This inclusive environment welcomes all students, regardless of orientation and identity. "In terms of support, the Pride Alliance will create a space to talk about feelings, questions, issues at school, home, and everyday life. Lastly, in terms of advocacy, we will aim to educate others and create a community of awareness and acceptance," Ms. Dubreuil elucidated.

There are plenty of students here at GHS who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community and I would really love to hold events during June, which is Pride Month. I would also like to have the Club hold fundraisers to go towards organizations such as the Trevor project, which is a nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention in queer people.

The first meeting will be held after school from 2:30 to 3:30
in the high school library on Wednesday, November 3rd.
Following meeting dates will be decided upon after the
first meeting to determine what works best for all students.
All are welcome to join regardless of orientation and identity.