The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) has been working together to find ways for LGBT community members to feel safer in their school environment. GSA is a national youth leadership organization that works to empower youth activists to end harassment and discrimination in schools based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

This past Thursday, January 21st, the club successfully held a dance to raise money for the Trevor Project. 

The Trevor Project is an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. Its mission is to put a stop to all LGBTQ suicides by providing counseling to suicidal teens and educating young adults around them. 

The students in the GSA unanimously came to the conclusion that the dance, held in the cafeteria, was a perfect way to raise money for the organization. With snacks, decorations, and even physical education teacher Ms. Andrea Poffinberger as the DJ, the dance was a big hit.

Teacher advisers Mrs. Jessica Dillon and Mrs. Samantha Hartman had been fundraising in the community. The theme of the dance was “New Year, New Beginning,” since this is the first year gay marriage has been legal in the United States.

 This dance was a trial, and because it went well, with more than 40 students attending, the club hopes to make it an annual event and to invite other school’s GSAs in the future. 

Dillon and Hartman thought it would be best to have the dance for solely GSA students and their dates in order to create the safest and most comfortable environment for LGBT students.  

“Most LGBT students probably don’t feel comfortable enough to go to dances with a date of the same gender. Since the dance is specifically for GSA members, they can feel comfortable in the environment. Also, we would continue to raise money for a good cause every year we hold the dance, so it’s basically two in one,” said sophomore GSA member, Abby Maloid.

Having a GSA club in schools can improve the lives of LGBT students. The GSA is a supportive community for many students who may lack support at home and in their communities.

Prior to the dance, GSA was also collecting money for the Trevor project. Posters could be found around the school and the club accepted all donations. All in all, the club raised over $1,000 in tickets and donations.