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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2019)
FEBRUARY 8, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 GSA Club sets sights on inclusive MHS, community By MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes There are more than two dozen after school clubs at McNary High School. Many of these groups feature a mul- titude of unique individuals, fun activities and common interests. Some of these clubs, how- ever, have taken it upon them- selves to bring about change in, not only their school, but their community as well. That’s where the GSA Club steps in. The GSA (Gay-Straight Al- liance) is an inclusive club and a safe, supportive, environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- gender, questioning (LGBTQ) and straight youth to meet and whose goals are to aid LGBTQ+ youth at McNary by spreading awareness and giving solutions to problems that will help them be accepted and feel included in society. Michael Hitchcock and Laura Gillespie are the co-pres- idents of the club. “It’s a relaxed environment. We like to hang out and joke around a lot,” Hitchcock said. “We welcome everyone,” Gillespie added. “It’s just a bunch of people that hang out and want to make the world a better place.” Back on Jan. 9, the GSA made a presentation to Mc- Nary faculty about a multitude of different issues surrounding LGTBQ+ issues at the school. “The presentation to the faculty was probably the most important thing we have done this year,” Gillespie said. “We have seen too much happen to other gay kids and we’re just tired of it and we want to make a change. That’s what we have been striving for.” Two goals that the GSA made back in September was to end any use of the f-slur, as well as ending accidental and intention- al misgendering at the school. These were two of the main issues brought before the staff. “If you open your ears and listen for it, you’ll hear it every day,” Hitchcock said. GSA members also educat- ed the staff about the difference between sex and gender, use of pronouns and how they could help support members of the LGBTQ+ community at the school. “Just the GSA being here is good for the school,” Gillespie said. “It was a good way for us to tell the faculty that we are here and that we need their support and acceptance.” Hitchcock also added: “Our fi nal message was just asking the staff to help us make the school a better place.” When the presentation was over, the faculty responded with a resounding ovation. “It was the most inspiration- al thing I’ve ever seen,” GSA ally Delaney Campbell said. “Seeing them be so brave and telling everyone all these things they have kept within for so long. It was so amazing.” “When the whole staff start- ed clapping, it was a relief over everyone.” KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald A set of button made by members of the McNary High School GSA that will be given out during the club’s LGBTQ+ Youth Film Festival on Feb. 23. The fi lm festival is one of several efforts the clubs is working on to create a more inclusive community. In the future, the GSA would also like to have sex- ual education options at the school for people who iden- tify as LGBTQ+. “The school doesn’t talk about sex ed for LGBTQ people ever. We barely know anything unless we research it ourselves,” Gillespie said. “This is a place of learning. This is where we should be taught these things because we are people, too, and we’re also important and we de- serve to be healthy. This kind of thing needs to be taught in schools.” Later this month, the GSA is doing something else for LGBTQ youth in the entire community. On Saturday, Feb. 23, the GSA is holding a free fi lm festival for all Salem-Keiz- er high school and middle school students. The festival will be showing movies that feature prominent characters who identify as LGBTQ+ — such as Love, Simon, Rent and Big Eden. “Representation is really important,” Hitchcock said. “The idea of being able to connect on such a deep lev- el with a character that shares an identity that is such a big part of you, it just makes you feel good when you watch it.” The fi lm festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Keizer Homegrown Theatre space at the Keizer Cultural Center, 980 Chema- wa Road N.E. The club will provide snacks and a Terri Ja- cobson Photography will be on-site between noon and 3 p.m. to take free, professional photos of attendees. Additional event details, and the full fi lm line-up, will be posted on the Facebook event page http://bit.ly/mcnarygsa. 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