Accomplishments

2020 - 2021 Accomplishments:

Over the course of three presentations, the GSA provided staff training on LGBTQ issues. The topics included basic education on LGBT terms and identities, respecting trans students and their needs, and creating and integrating LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum. You can view the presentations here: Educational LGBTQ+ Presentations.

We started the LGBTatORR Instagram account, which has over 139 posts of students, alumni, and community members sharing their experiences as members of the LGBTQ community. The account was based on the work done by Black@ORR in the summer of 2020. We have also started a new series of informational posts.

On April 30th, we hosted the GLSEN Day of Silence and curated a bulletin board outside of the nurses' office, all about LGBT+ Mental Health and how we are affected by current events.

The GSA is holding ongoing discussions with the administration about revising some of our current classes to ensure that they are respectful to our students. We are also working with the administration and school committee to administer a survey that will assess our school's attitudes and education towards LGBTQ people.

In May 2021, Parker and Alia presented to the ORR Policy Subcommittee on changes we need in the handbook and school policy and procedures.

The GSA is in the process of helping to revise the handbook and suggest new policies. Contact us for more information or to share your thoughts.

In addition, members of our club are involved with other groups such as TriTown Against Racism (TTAR) and the ORR Antiracism Subcommittee. Our Vice President, Alia, is also a state and regional leader for the Massachusetts Commission for LGBTQ Youth, as well as for the GLSEN MA Shine Team. These groups all affect our school and share our goals of creating an inclusive, diverse, and healthy community for our students.

During Pride Month, the GSA is partnering with the Mattapoisett Museum for an education series on the museum's Instagram. These are covering topics such as Boston Marriages, Local Historical Queer Authors and Literature, the history of GSAs, and Stonewall.

The bulletin board:

2021 - 2022 Accomplishments

Alia Cusolito (our President) co-led a Q&A at the Mattapoisett Museum with Eileen Dugas from the South Coast LGBTQ Network. They discussed what each of their groups have been working on as well as how the community can get involved, and opened the floor for any gender questions about terminology and the LGBTQ community as well as questions about their organizations.

We now have a second gender-neutral bathroom at ORR, on the second floor in the science wing.

The gender-neutral locker room is also now open for business!

Starting next semester, it will be strongly suggested by the school that teachers ask their students for name and pronouns, to attempt to minimize the misgendering and deadnaming which occurs.

Our school and GSA President was featured on the front cover of the 2021 Boston Globe Education Issue, focusing on LGBT+ student activism and progress in schools. Linda K Wertheimer had a few interviews with Alia Cusolito and also met with our advisor Ms Barker, our Principal Mr Devoll, and other students, including members of the GSA such as our Vice President Ghost Desroches.

Our GSA President led a successful National Queer Youth Walkout, including 200+ ORR students, on 3/11/22. More info here: National Walkout