Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Opinion

To the Editor:

Poetry & Art

Classified Ads

Back Issues

Blogs

GSA: Aiming for acceptance

Brittany Reynolds
The Commuter

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

GSA
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind,” said the children’s book author, Dr. Seuss.

LBCC Gay-Straight Alliance is a place where gay, bisexual, lesbian, and transgender students and faculty, along with their straight allies, can meet and feel comfortable.

“I am a supporter of the gay community because I think that it is very important to accept people for who they are and to spread awareness that it is okay to be whoever you are,” said Sara Avitt, an LBCC student.

The first meeting of the term took place on Friday, Jan. 15 in the Diversity Achievement Center. There were about seven people along with the club’s advisor, Karelia Stetz-Waters, and the club’s president, Jennifer Boatwright. They started with introductions and brainstormed about what the members were looking for in the group and ways to spread awareness about equality and the club.

On an average there are about six to seven members in attendance each meeting and about 25-30 members on the official member list. Some students have conflicting schedules with the time of the meeting, so they aren’t able to attend it but are supporters of the club.

GSA advisor and English teacher Karelia Stetz-Waters said, “There is a very even mix of gay, bi, lesbian, and transgender members, and there are always straight members that are allies to the club.”

The club does a variety of things such as have discussions, watch movies, play board and video games, go bowling, and participate in awareness-raising activities.

“I come to just socialize and hang out with a bunch of people who don’t hate me. I’m also in the club to make friends with people who accept me for who I am,” says Jake Dontavion, an LBCC student and transgender male.

The Gay-Straight Alliance meets every Friday from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Diversity Achievement Center in the Forum Building next to the Commuter office.

Comment

Commenting is closed for this article.