By Logan Schlossberg
Staff Writer
Mira Costa’s Gay-Straight Alliance Club is proving that it really does get better.
Noted writer and media pundit Dan Savage founded the project this September as a unique way for supporters to tell Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transexual (LGBT) Youth that they can find love and happiness. LGBT adults around the country are compiling a video archive to share their life stories.
“In general, it is a campaign to inspire people who have lost hope to become more self-confident and optimistic for the world ahead of them,” president Levi Schoenfeld said.
GSA is planning to create its own video and asks any student that wants to speak in the GSA’s video to visit room 23 on Thursdays at lunch.
“‘It Gets Better’ is really a touching campaign. Even if we are not all gay, we know someone who has been verbally abused and chastised for their sexual orientation. But we also know that it does get better,” Schoenfeld said.
On Thursdays, gay and straight students meet in room 23 to talk about current events relevant to the gay and lesbian community and create a place where these students feel comfortable. GSA provides a space where students can meet free of judgment.
“Our club is a place where tolerance reigns supreme. We have a goal that focuses primarily on equality and peace. We try to accomplish the ideal by participating and putting together events which allow us to get involved and make a difference,” Schoenfeld said.
English teacher Alan Zeoli, the advisor of GSA, finds the club and its activities to be successful. Zeoli says that it holds a positive atmosphere during lunch time, and he sees the club as a remarkable coming together.
“A while ago, the former advisor of the GSA was leaving the school so I offered the president that year my room so that the GSA could have a place to continue their weekly meetings,” Zeoli said.
GSA holds movie nights and group mixers to make sure these students know they have a support group and are able to be themselves with a tight group of friends at their side. Club members say that the people in the club are all there for each other.
“I love the club, it provides a great environment for people to be who they are and know that they’re not being judged. It has helped me develop who I am, and I have made many long-lasting friendships,” senior Mary-Katherine Hopp said.
Recently, many of these GSA members and other gay and straight students wore purple clothing as part of a national awareness day. This display was created to honor the memory of all homosexuals that have committed suicide due to harassment for their sexuality.
“Wearing purple was a great idea that really brought attention to the string of gay suicides around the country, and it also showed support for gay teens that are struggling with pressure,” senior Lucas Bavaro said.
Along with the “It Gets Better” project, GSA has been involved with events such as Pride Day and National Day of Silence.
“Although Costa provides a tolerant environment, it is important to provide the opportunity for gay kids to get involved with issues that directly concern them and to, in some cases, show that they are not alone,” junior Connor Toscano said.
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