Newspapers / St. Andrews University Student … / Sept. 1, 2011, edition 1 / Page 5
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The Lance September/October 2011 Page 5 EXTRACURRICULAR Club Spotlight: Gay-Straight Alliance III mill gay-straight alliance Ceaira Griffin GSA President When I first joined the St. Andrews chapter of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), it was in support of my fiiends. One, was a gay male the other a les bian. I had no idea what to expect from a meeting or if I, as a bisexual woidd fit in to this entire equation. The same thoughts may be going through the minds of many people on campus, whether they are straight, bisexual or otherwise. October is national Anti-Bullying month (It is also GLBT history month). And, while bullying can effect anyone that may be the least bit different, it is a huge problem for people in the LGBT commimity. Both of the friends that I mentioned before, they're still interest ed in being active on campus through spots, clubs, and activities. In many of those cases, they felt that they had to change to be a part of the campus com munity. This change, ranged form hid ing their sexual orientation, all the way to changing their personality to be clos er to some gender norm. While a lot of people may not see this as a problem, they may never think of how they would feel if the roles were reversed. How would they feel if they were not accepted because of something that was so much a part of themselves, like their voice or preference in music? The Gay Straight Alliance is not a club here to push an agenda or change people. Our goal is to promote a com munity of acceptance, where everyone can feel at home, grow, and be success ful. While promoting bullying preven tion is one of our main goals, we also attend conferences once or twice a year, focused on the LGBT community and how they are viewed in smaller commu nities— such as teams or campuses— as well as the world at large. While global media provides a wonderfij resource for information, it can also promote stereo types that are not necessarily true, such as the portrayal of gay men. I've met many straight guys who will tell you in a second that all gay men aren't real men, but limp-wrist boys that wished that they were women. In school and through my experience with GSA, I can tell you that guys and girls, gay and straight can be found in every possible flavor. The point that we want to show is that every person is different and those differences do not give any one a reason to believe that anyone else, gay, straight lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or whatever, is incapable or undeserv ing, of a healthy, happy, life where they can be accepted as they are. To promote the idea that differences don't make the person less, GSA is planning on sponsoring a drag show "Think Globally, Act Locally” along with other campus groups. I feel like this will be a fiin way to have people on campus look at their friends, teammate, a classmates in a new light. Who knows, maybe one person will meet someone after the show, who's a little different, someone that they would never usually talk to or would normally ostra cize, and find a fiicnd under neath. Also, we will soon begin filming a video for the "It Gets Better Campaign" as well as shooting photos in support of the NOH8 campaign. For me joining GSA, started as a favor to a friend. But, as President, I want to do a favor to our campus. Through GSA, I want to help people creep out of that comfort zone or niche they've found to discover new things about themselves or just to open a door to being able to communicate with peo ple of new cultures or with different perspeaives. I hope that this litde blurb will help bring some new faces to meetings or at least create a desire to support some of our goals if they match your thoughts. GSA will meet every Tuesday in the Albemarle main lounge a 8pm. And, yes I know that's the same time that Glee! comes on, but don't worry, you wont miss it. Also check out these great links http: //WWW. nohScampaign. com/ http: //www.itgetsbetter. org/ http://www.pointfoundation.org/index lO.html http://www.hrc.org/ the-hrc-story/hrc- foundation
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