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.
FREE gallon of milk with 1st delivery*
Delivering for 15 years
(503)580-4060
*New customers
moo-man-com.3dcartstores.com
to better serve
the Keizer
community
®
5825 Shoreview Lane, Keizer • 503-540-6471
1600 State Street, Salem • 503-540-6300
This spring, we’ll be expanding to a FULL SERVICE CLINIC
in Keizer. We’re bringing Orthopedic care, closer to home.
At Hope Orthopedics of Oregon, we’re ded-
icated to outstanding accessible orthopedic
care. As part of that commitment we are
proud to be opening a new clinic in the Keizer
community. Our highly trained specialists are
bringing orthopedic care, closer to you.
Our surgeons, PAs, and Nurse Practitioners
have experience in subspecialty orthopedic
care, joint replacement, and sports injuries. We
also offer comprehensive therapy services with
highly trained professionals who will work with
you to speed your recovery and allow you to
return to the things you most enjoy doing.
With our services available closer to home,
you can spend more time doing the things
you love. Hope Orthopedics, where expertise
and compassion meet.