Turner Today
The ABC's of Equality
By: Rachel Johnson
It’s no secret that recently issues on “gay rights” have become increasingly popular in the eye of the public, from the government passing the Defense of Marriage Act in California to exposure to popular music from artists, such as Macklemore.
However it’s not only a national debate, but a global one. Over the span of a few years, LGBTIAQ (this stands for just a few of many sexual orientations and gender expressions: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, and others) pride parades have taken place in countless places that previously disapproved on various levels (from simple prejudice to genocide): Czech, Uganda, Cape Verde, Lithuania, Greenland, etc.
While in contrast, others have scrambled to quiet LGBT-positive movements, such as Russia and Greece, with legal laws condemning homosexuality as “propaganda” and the creation of transgender concentration camps. The issues are real, and changes are happening NOW.
All sound a little overwhelming? Wondering what all of this is really about? Turner’s GSA can help you stay up to date on these global and local issues. Current president, Gregory Rogers, expressed his hopes for the club this year.
“I want them to learn more than they did last year… Most importantly, we’ll be teaching students how to counteract homophobia and transphobia,” Rogers said.
With so many LGBT-related events that happened just over the summer (both positive and negative), the club will keep students up-to-date on these issues, but an attendee can also expect games, snacks, and mixers with other GSA’s district-wide. Arthur Teater (sophomore) recalled one of his favorite events the GSA annually participates in is the annual homecoming parade:
“The homecoming parade last year was really fun. Everybody got to be together and yell things about the GSA and people were okay with it, and I like it when people are okay with LGBT things. There were a lot of rainbows, it was just really awesome,” Teater said.
In an environment where students know they can feel comfortable expressing themselves, the GSA hopes to bring understanding on a personal level as well as assimilate this awareness and acceptance into the school; the goal is to promote an environment where kids can feel this way all the time, regardless of whether they’re attending the club or not.
“Without question, I almost never hear the word 'gay,' used out of context… it used to be 'that’s gay,' was just the equivalent to 'that sucks.' Whether it’s directly the causation of GSA or not, the culture in the school is more understanding,” Mr. Bally, one of the club’s sponsors, said when asked whether he had seen changes in the student body since the beginnings of GSA.
And so it stands- anybody is welcome to come and check out the GSA, and certainly won’t be assumed any identity by attending; one doesn’t have to share anything that would cause discomfort.
“GSA is open to everybody- it’s about fostering understanding between different people,” Mr. Bally said when asked if there’s anything the kids should know.
Rogers simply remarked, “We meet every Friday in D107.”