By Taylor Kelley
News Editor
Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) hosted Pride Palooza on June 1 during office hours in the
Mustang Mall to celebrate Pride Month.
GSA’s goal is to exist as a safe place on campus for all students, especially among the rising
amounts of hate seen recently throughout the U.S., according to senior GSA president Jay
Barlie. GSA occasionally hosts educational events like Pride Palooza with the purpose of
combating ignorance surrounding the LGBTQ+ community.
“[The assembly] spreads awareness and helps normalize the LGBTQ+ community,” said
sophomore Kai Brennan. “It also makes Costa more welcoming.”
According to junior Vanessa Conde, GSA meets, fundraises, and does its best to be a support
system to the LGBTQ+ community. In preparation for the assembly, members were able to give
input on what was included in the assembly and how it would be executed.
“Members gave input for the information they wanted to be included,” said Barlie. “At the
assembly, we had booths with food, history, pride flags, stickers and guessing games.”
The assembly provided cookies, pride flags, stickers, numerous games, an educational history
booth, and dancing. Proceeding the assembly, GSA also compiled a video that was shown in
homeroom before the event to preview the celebration.
“Pride Palooza was a great event,” said junior Sophia Parsley. “I think it’s really important to
spread awareness. It was so awesome to see the LGBTQ+ community come together.”
GSA also offered chalk to all students to write colorful messages on the ground of the Mustang
Mall. Several students were able to contribute and, according to Barlie, it added a lot of color
and joy to contribute to a vibrant celebration.
“Even at Costa, we still see acts of hate committed every year,” said Barlie. “We need to keep
promoting proper education and realistic examples of what it’s like to be part of a minority
group.”
To promote the assembly, posters were put in several classrooms and hallways. The annual
assembly is held early in June to kick off Pride Month.
“I think it is wonderful that our school devotes time to promoting the GSA as equally as they
promote other things,” said junior Brody Interian. “It was great to see all the fun and interactive
booths.”
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